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2006/07 - St. Patrick's College - DCU

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COLÁISTE PHÁDRAIG<br />

ANNUAL REPORT<br />

<strong>2006</strong> - 20<strong>07</strong><br />

ST PATRICK’S COLLEGE


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

Contents<br />

2<br />

3<br />

4<br />

5<br />

8<br />

10<br />

12<br />

13<br />

14<br />

15<br />

16<br />

18<br />

24<br />

28<br />

30<br />

31<br />

33<br />

34<br />

36<br />

37<br />

Contents / Clár<br />

Foreword by Chairperson / Brollach le Cathaoirleach an Bhoird Rialaithe<br />

Introduction by President / Réamhrá ón Uachtarán<br />

Governing Body / An Bord Rialaithe<br />

<strong>St</strong>rategic Planning and Development / Pleanáil agus <strong>St</strong>raitéiseach Forbairt<br />

The University / An Ollscoil<br />

The Digital Age / An Ré Dhigiteach<br />

Educational Research Centre / An Foras Taighde ar Oideachas<br />

Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education /<br />

An Lárionad um Fhorbairt agus Oideachas na Luath-Óige<br />

Educational Disadvantage Centre / An tIonad um Oideachas faoi<br />

Mhíbhuntáiste<br />

Seamus Heaney Lecture Series / Sraith Léachtaí Seamus Heaney<br />

Academic Council / An Chomhairle Acadúil<br />

Administrative/<strong>St</strong>udent Support Services /<br />

Seirbhísí Riaracháin/Taca do Mhic Léinn<br />

• Chaplaincy<br />

• Admissions<br />

• Access<br />

• Disability<br />

• Counselling<br />

• Careers<br />

• Adult and Continuing Education<br />

• Oifigeach Gaeilge<br />

• IT Services<br />

• AV Services<br />

• Freedom of Information<br />

• Senior Tutor<br />

• Library<br />

Highlights of the Year / Príomhimeachtaí na Bliana<br />

<strong>St</strong>udent Life / Saol na Mac Léinn<br />

International Links / Naisc Idirnáisiúnta<br />

<strong>St</strong>aff Publications / Foilseacháin na Foirne<br />

Financial Report / Tuarascáil Airgeadais<br />

<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> in the Past / Coláiste Phádraig in Anallód<br />

Awards/Scholarships/Honours / Gradam/Scoláireachtaí/Onóracha<br />

Appendices / Aguisíní<br />

• Enrolment<br />

• Examination <strong>St</strong>atistics<br />

• Graduation<br />

• Analysis of <strong>2006</strong> Graduates<br />

• <strong>St</strong>affing<br />

• Speech by An Taoiseach at launch of <strong>College</strong> History<br />

1


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Foreword<br />

Foreword by Chairperson of Governing Body /<br />

Brollach le Cathaoirleach an Bhoird Rialaithe<br />

Professor John Coolahan<br />

Chairperson<br />

I am pleased to present the Annual Report of <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> for <strong>2006</strong>/<strong>07</strong>. It provides an informative<br />

overview of the diverse range of activities and endeavours in the <strong>College</strong> during the period in question. I<br />

congratulate all those involved in producing the report and those who contributed in any way to the work<br />

of the <strong>College</strong> in the past year.<br />

In July 20<strong>07</strong>, a new Governing Body took office for a five-year term. As a former student of the <strong>College</strong>, I<br />

was honoured to be invited to chair that Body. I look forward to working with my fellow Governors and<br />

with the President and staff to enhance the status of the <strong>College</strong> and to ensure that it continues to serve<br />

the educational needs of Irish society in a responsible and effective manner.<br />

In looking forward to the important work that lies ahead, I would like to thank Dr Michael Herity and the<br />

members of the outgoing Governing Body for their service to the <strong>College</strong> and for their wise and efficient<br />

governance.<br />

Professor John Coolahan<br />

Chairperson<br />

Tá an-áthas orm Tuarascáil Bhliantúil Choláiste Phádraig le haghaidh na bliana <strong>2006</strong>/<strong>07</strong> a chur os bhur<br />

gcomhair. Tugtar cuntas eolach inti ar an réimse leathan gníomhaíochtaí agus imeachtaí a bhí ar siúl sa<br />

Choláiste i rith na tréimhse sin. Déanaim comhghairdeas leo siúd uilig a raibh baint acu le tiomsú na<br />

tuarascála agus leo siúd a chuir ar shlí ar bith le saothar an Choláiste le bliain anuas.<br />

Ceapadh Bord Rialaithe nua i mí Iúil 20<strong>07</strong> go ceann tréimhse cúig bliana eile. Mar iar-mhac léinn de<br />

chuid an Choláiste, ba mhór an onóir dom é gur iarradh orm feidhmiú mar Chathaoirleach ar an mBord<br />

sin. Tá mé ag súil le bheith ag comhoibriú le mo chomh-Ghobharnóirí agus leis an Uachtarán agus a<br />

fhoireann chun cur le stádas an Choláiste agus lena chinntiú go leanfaidh sé de bheith ag freastal go<br />

héifeachtach ar riachtanais oideachasúla phobal na hÉireann.<br />

Agus mé ag breathnú romham ar an obair mhór atá le cur i gcrích, ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil<br />

leis an Dr Michael Herity agus le baill an iar-Bhoird Rialaithe as a gcuid seirbhíse ar son an Choláiste<br />

agus as an rialachas críonna cúramach a chuir siad ar fáil i rith an ama.<br />

An tOllamh John Coolahan<br />

Cathaoirleach<br />

2


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

Introduction by President / Réamhrá ón Uachtarán<br />

international affairs. It would be invidious to single out any<br />

particular initiatives, but the successful launch of an on-line MEd<br />

and the partnership with ICEP harnessing the potential of the<br />

latest educational technology to meet the professional<br />

development needs of mainstream teachers in the area of SEN,<br />

reflects significant recent progress in this area. It manifests the<br />

intention of the <strong>College</strong> to deploy the academic values and<br />

strengths of a long-established and widely respected institution<br />

with the tools of the digital age to advance our educational<br />

mission.<br />

I wish you good reading.<br />

Pauric Travers<br />

President<br />

Pauric Travers<br />

President<br />

Introduction<br />

In November <strong>2006</strong>, An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern<br />

launched a history of <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> from its<br />

foundations in 1875. Reading that history, it is<br />

striking how many of the key issues recur – issues<br />

about the duration and content of teacher<br />

education programmes, the proper relationship<br />

with schools, the balance of personal and<br />

professional development, and the implications of<br />

changes in the wider society we serve. As may be<br />

evident from the pages below, these issues<br />

continue to dominate the agenda. It is a truism<br />

that we live in a rapidly changing society,<br />

radically different from even a few decades ago,<br />

but the fundamental challenges facing a <strong>College</strong><br />

such as this, and the nature of the educational<br />

enterprise are more familiar than novel.<br />

In striving to produce graduates who are skilled,<br />

flexible, highly competent, well rounded, creative<br />

and prepared to meet the challenges of the<br />

knowledge society, we build on the best traditions<br />

of the <strong>College</strong>. Above all, we seek to educate the<br />

whole person and to develop her or his character,<br />

sensibility and disposition.<br />

The annual report which I have the honour of<br />

introducing reflects the diversity and depth of<br />

activity of <strong>College</strong> students and staff across a<br />

range of curricular and extra-curricular areas. It<br />

embraces continuing high quality activities in<br />

initial teacher education and continuing<br />

professional development, teaching and learning<br />

and research, the arts and humanities, teaching<br />

practice, mentoring and induction, SEN and early<br />

childhood education, digital and on-line learning,<br />

access and diversity, undergraduate and<br />

postgraduate programmes up to and including<br />

doctoral level, quality assurance, performance<br />

management, community engagement and<br />

I mí na Samhna <strong>2006</strong>, sheol an Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, stair<br />

Choláiste Phádraig óna thús sa bhliain 1875. Agus an stair sin á<br />

léamh agam is iontach an ní é a rialta a thagann na ceisteanna is<br />

tábhachtaí chun cinn arís agus arís eile – ceisteanna faoi fhad<br />

agus ábhar na gcúrsaí oiliúna oidí, an caidreamh cuí le<br />

scoileanna, an chothroime idir forbairt phearsanta agus<br />

ghairmiúil, agus impleachtaí na n-athruithe móra sochaí. Tá na<br />

ceisteanna sin fós chun tosaigh mar is féidir a fheiceáil sa<br />

tuarascáil seo. Is fíor a rá go mairimid i sochaí a dtagann<br />

mearathrú uirthi i gcónaí, sochaí atá tar éis athrú go mór le<br />

roinnt blianta anuas, ach is aithnidiúil seachas úrnua na dúshláin<br />

agus nádúr an fhiontair oideachais atá ar aghaidh coláiste mar<br />

seo.<br />

Agus muid ag tabhairt faoi chéimithe a scaoileadh uainn atá<br />

inniúil, solúbtha, ardchumasach, dea-oilte, cruthaitheach agus<br />

réidh le dul i ngleic le dúshláin na sochaí eolais, tógaimid ar<br />

dhea-thraidisiúin an Choláiste. Thar aon ní eile, féachaimid le<br />

hoideachas a chur ar an duine ina iomláine agus an carachtar,<br />

an mhothálacht agus an aigne a fhorbairt.<br />

Is féidir éagsúlacht agus doimhneacht na ngníomhaíochtaí foirne<br />

agus mac léinn i réimse imeachtaí curaclaim agus seachchuraclaim<br />

a fheiceáil sa tuarascáil seo, a bhfuil sé de phribhléid<br />

agam í a chur in bhur láthair. Cuimsítear inti gníomhaíochtaí<br />

ardchaighdeáin in oideachas tosaigh oidí agus i bhforbairt<br />

ghairmiúil leanúnach; teagasc, foghlaim agus taighe; na<br />

healaíona agus an léann daonna; cleachtadh múinteoireachta;<br />

meantóireacht agus ionduchtú; ROS agus oideachas luathóige;<br />

foghlaim dhigiteach/ar líne; rochtain agus ilíocht; cláir léinn<br />

fochéime agus iarchéime go leibhéal na dochtúireachta; dearbhú<br />

feabhais; bainistiú feidhmíochta; comhpháirtíocht pobail agus<br />

gnóthaí idirnaisiúnta. Ní hionmholta díriú ar thionscnaimh ar<br />

leith ach is fiú dhá rud a lua a léiríonn an dul chun cinn atá á<br />

dhéanamh sa Choláiste: seoladh cúrsa rathúil MOid. ar líne agus<br />

comhpháirtíocht nua leis an IOPS a tharraingíonn ar an<br />

teicneolaíocht oideachasúil is nua chun tacú le riachtanais<br />

forbartha gairmiúla gnáthmhúinteoirí i réimse na ROS. Léiríonn<br />

sé rún an Choláiste fhadbhunaithe seo a chuid luachanna<br />

acadúla agus láidreachtaí institiúide a nascadh le huirlisí na<br />

haoise digití chun a mhisean oideachais a chur chun cinn.<br />

Go mbaine sibh sult as a bhfuil anseo síos.<br />

Pauric Travers<br />

Uachtarán<br />

3


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Governing Body / An Bord Rialaithe<br />

The governance of the <strong>College</strong> is entrusted to a Governing<br />

Body appointed by the Patron/Manager, the Archbishop of<br />

Dublin, which is representative of the main stakeholders and<br />

the education, arts and business community. Minutes of 11<br />

meetings of the <strong>College</strong> Management Committee came before<br />

Governing Body for noting. Governing Body also ratifies new<br />

appointments. New appointments for the <strong>2006</strong>/<strong>07</strong><br />

academic year are listed in the appendices.<br />

In July 20<strong>07</strong>, a new Governing Body was appointed, with a<br />

five year term of office. It is chaired by Professor John<br />

Coolahan, a distinguished educationalist, Emeritus Professor<br />

of Education at NUIM and alumnus of <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>.<br />

Total membership has increased to twenty-six (listed below);<br />

including two additional non-academic staff members and the<br />

Head of Education, ex-officio. At its inaugural meeting in July,<br />

plans were made for an Induction Programme for the new<br />

Governing Body.<br />

The outgoing Governing Body met four times during the<br />

academic year in question, while the new Governing Body<br />

had one meeting before the end of the academic year.<br />

The main issues addressed were:<br />

• Career <strong>St</strong>ructures for Academic staff. Arising from the<br />

recommendation of the Labour Court, the Higher<br />

Education Authority sanctioned the filling of Principal<br />

Lecturer and Senior Lecturer positions. The process of<br />

filling of these positions was completed during the<br />

<strong>2006</strong>/<strong>07</strong> academic year, commencing with the filling of<br />

the Principal Lecturers positions, followed by the Senior<br />

Lecturer positions which were advertised in December<br />

<strong>2006</strong>.<br />

• The University Linkage – reported on below.<br />

• Professorships – the extension of professorships by the<br />

University to appropriate <strong>College</strong> staff<br />

• The <strong>College</strong> Building Development programme – reported<br />

on below under “Physical Development”<br />

• Review of the composition and terms of reference of<br />

Governing Body - resulted in the establishment of a<br />

working group, which drew up a document on the<br />

“Functions and Responsibilities of Governing Body”. The<br />

document was agreed at the final meeting of the outgoing<br />

Governing Body for the guidance of its successor.<br />

• Quality Improvement Plans – the QIPs of the English<br />

Department and the Library were presented by Dr Daire<br />

Keogh, Co-ordinator of Quality Assurance, to Governing<br />

Body at its meeting in December <strong>2006</strong>. The QIPs of<br />

Roinn na Gaeilge and the President’s Office were<br />

presented to the new Governing Body in July 20<strong>07</strong>.<br />

• Naming of the <strong>College</strong> Auditorium – Governing Body<br />

considered a proposal, presented by Dr Patrick Burke, to<br />

formally name the <strong>College</strong> Auditorium<br />

• <strong>College</strong> Scholarships – a proposal from Academic Council<br />

to establish funded scholarships was agreed<br />

• Irish Aid/HEA <strong>St</strong>rategic Collaboration<br />

• Participation in Foras Feasa – collaborative proposal with<br />

NUIM, <strong>DCU</strong> and DKIT and related memorandum of<br />

understanding<br />

• An amendment to the Disciplinary Regulations regarding<br />

plagiarism was approved<br />

• Revised Grant Allocation Model – this new funding model<br />

was extended to the <strong>College</strong> by the HEA in 20<strong>07</strong>. Funding<br />

is related to student numbers with weightings assigned to<br />

programmes.<br />

Matters which come regularly before Governing Body include<br />

inter alia the President’s Report and a Human Resources/<br />

personnel Report, which are presented to each meeting; the<br />

draft budget and enrolment/examination statistics are<br />

presented annually, with financial reports being provided<br />

periodically.<br />

The Audit Committee met regularly throughout the year, and<br />

considered various matters related to the audit function of the<br />

<strong>College</strong>. A work programme was drawn up for the year and<br />

approved. The Audit Committee met with a representative of<br />

the Comptroller & Auditor General’s (C&AG) office. The<br />

committee was also involved in the process of selecting an<br />

internal auditor for the <strong>College</strong>. Following the tender process,<br />

Pricewaterhouse Coopers were selected as the <strong>College</strong><br />

Internal Auditors. The Audit Committee is coterminus with<br />

Governing Body, and held its final meeting in April 20<strong>07</strong>. An<br />

annual report was presented by the outgoing Audit Committee<br />

to Governing Body at its April meeting. A new Audit<br />

Committee will be nominated by Governing Body in the<br />

Autumn.<br />

The membership of the 20<strong>07</strong>-2012 Governing Body is:<br />

Prof John Coolahan (Chairperson)<br />

Rev Desmond Beirne<br />

Ms Olivia Bree<br />

Ms Anne McDonagh<br />

Dr Elizabeth Cotter<br />

Dr Mark Morgan<br />

Mr Seán Cromien<br />

Rev Brian Moore<br />

Ms Evelyn Cuddy<br />

Mr Tommy Murtagh<br />

Mr Roddy Day<br />

Dr Anita Prunty<br />

Rev Aquinas Duffy<br />

Ms Joanne Toal<br />

Mr Alan Flanagan<br />

Dr Raymond Topley<br />

Ms Marian Hackett<br />

Dr Pauric Travers<br />

Dr Tom Kellaghan<br />

Prof Ferdinand von Prondzynski<br />

Mr Garrett Kelleher<br />

Ms Fionnuala Waldron<br />

Mr Feichín McDonagh SC Mr Martin Ward<br />

Dr Ciarán Mac Murchaidh Mr Paul Whelan<br />

Management Committee<br />

Management Committee advises and assists the President in<br />

the conduct of the day to day management of the <strong>College</strong> and<br />

in the development and implementation of policy.<br />

The Committee met eleven times during the year. This year,<br />

the membership expanded with the appointment of two<br />

Deans – one in Education and one in Humanities.<br />

The current members are:<br />

Dr Pauric Travers, President;<br />

Mr Martin Ward, Secretary/Bursar;<br />

Ms Olivia Bree, Registrar;<br />

Dr Mary Shine Thompson, Dean of Research/Humanities;<br />

Dr Jean Ware, Dean of Education;<br />

Dr Brenna Clarke, Head of English;<br />

Dr Mark Morgan, Head of Education.<br />

The University nominee is Mr Martin Conry, Secretary, <strong>DCU</strong>.<br />

4


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

<strong>St</strong>rategic Planning and Development /<br />

Pleanáil <strong>St</strong>raitéiseach agus Forbairt<br />

<strong>St</strong>rategic<br />

Monitoring of progress on the <strong>St</strong>rategic Plan for the <strong>College</strong> -<br />

Ar Aghaidh <strong>2006</strong>-2010 – continued during the year. A<br />

progress report on the action plan was drawn up and<br />

presented to Governing Body at the end of year one of the<br />

plan.<br />

Career <strong>St</strong>ructures<br />

Of significant strategic importance to <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> was<br />

the introduction of an enhanced career structure for academic<br />

staff, with the implementation of the LRC recommendation to<br />

fill additional principal lecturer and senior lecturer positions.<br />

In the course of this academic year, these positions were<br />

advertised internally. All but one of the principal lecturer<br />

positions were filled early in the academic year; followed by<br />

the filling of six senior lecturer positions in Education, five in<br />

Humanities, and six <strong>College</strong>-wide senior lectureships, at the<br />

end of the academic year. The <strong>College</strong> is currently in<br />

discussions with <strong>DCU</strong> regarding the introduction of <strong>College</strong><br />

Professorships.<br />

<strong>College</strong>s of Education. The programme involved visits to<br />

schools and <strong>College</strong>s of Education in Lusaka, the Copper Belt<br />

and Livingstone in the Southern Province, as well as to an<br />

Aids project in Ndola. The party was welcomed to Zambia by<br />

Irish Ambassador, Bill Nolan, a distinguished alumnus of <strong>St</strong><br />

<strong>Patrick's</strong> <strong>College</strong>. The preparation for the visit was undertaken<br />

on behalf of Irish Aid by Cathal Higgins, former member of<br />

staff in <strong>St</strong> <strong>Patrick's</strong> <strong>College</strong> and of the World Bank.<br />

At the conclusion of the visit, a joint project was announced<br />

by Minister Hanafin and her Zambian opposite number,<br />

which will involve the Irish <strong>College</strong>s of Education supporting<br />

their counterparts in Zambia. This will focus on professional<br />

development support for <strong>College</strong> staff in priority areas within<br />

the Zambian national development plan and the sectoral plan<br />

including literacy, numeracy, ICT and multi-grade. A<br />

follow-up technical visit is planned to finalise a detailed<br />

project proposal.<br />

HEA/Irish Aid <strong>St</strong>rategic Collaboration<br />

Arising from the Higher Education Authority and Irish Aid<br />

initiative to promote collaboration between Irish 3rd level<br />

institutions and those in developing countries, expressions of<br />

interest and initial concept statements were invited. Dr<br />

Padraig Carmody visited Zambia to have discussions with<br />

colleagues in the University of Zambia. A proposal in relation<br />

to special education needs (SEN) which was identified as an<br />

area of great need in Zambia, was developed. The <strong>College</strong><br />

submission was successful in Phase I, but was ultimately<br />

unsuccessful. However, the <strong>College</strong> is one of a number of<br />

partners in a successful proposal led by Mary Immaculate<br />

<strong>College</strong> Limerick, to establish a development education<br />

centre.<br />

Zambia<br />

The Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin TD,<br />

visited Zambia from 5-10 February. The delegation<br />

accompanying the Minister included Bridget McManus,<br />

Secretary-General of the DES; Sean MacMahon and Máire<br />

Matthews of Irish Aid, Seán Flynn, Irish Times; and Dr Pauric<br />

Travers, President of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Patrick's</strong> <strong>College</strong>, representing the Irish<br />

Minister Hanafin on visit to Zambia<br />

Foras Feasa<br />

For some time there has been informal cooperation between<br />

staff in the <strong>College</strong> and in NUI Maynooth in relation to a<br />

variety of activities including the Irish in Europe project, led<br />

by Dr Marian Lyons and Dr Thomas O’Connor. This<br />

experience provided the basis for the development of An<br />

Foras Feasa, a new collaborative initiative led by NUIM and<br />

involving <strong>DCU</strong>, DKIT and <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>. An Foras Feasa<br />

will support individual and collaborative projects in the area<br />

5


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

of Humanities and Technology, and represents a unique<br />

combination of traditional knowledge and dynamic<br />

innovation. A detailed project proposal was prepared for<br />

Cycle 4 of the PRTLI, a related MOU was signed by NUIM in<br />

<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>. The formal announcement of the<br />

outcome was made in August 20<strong>07</strong>.<br />

Collaboration with ICEP/DES<br />

In response to the challenges facing teachers and schools in<br />

dealing with an increasingly diverse pupil population and in<br />

implementing inclusive educational policy, the Special<br />

Education Department of <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra,<br />

(SPCD) in collaboration with Institute of Child Education and<br />

Psychology, Europe (ICEP) has developed a new Certificate/<br />

Diploma in Education (Special/Inclusive Education).<br />

This programme aims to develop teachers’ knowledge, skills<br />

and competencies thus enhancing the provision of<br />

appropriate education for children and young people with<br />

special educational needs in mainstream settings. The<br />

programme is part-funded by the Teacher Education Section of<br />

the Department of Education and Science under the<br />

National Development Plan 2008-2013.<br />

The programme is delivered in a modular format using a<br />

blend of online and distance learning technologies and<br />

pedagogies. The duration is flexible to suit the needs of<br />

individual teachers. The Certificate consists of four taught<br />

modules and must be completed within 3 years from first<br />

registration. The Diploma requires an additional module,<br />

unassessed, on research methods and a dissertation of<br />

7,500/8,000 words, on an agreed topic, which must be<br />

completed within 4 years from first registration.<br />

There were 75 teachers, primary and post-primary, enrolled<br />

for the initial roll out of this programme. It is anticipated that<br />

the intake will increase in the coming years.<br />

Physical Development<br />

The process of selecting a Design Team for the new building,<br />

which commenced with the call to tender in early Summer<br />

<strong>2006</strong>, continued in the Autumn. The applicants to tender<br />

were shortlisted under specific criteria, and invited into the<br />

<strong>College</strong> to make a presentation to Senior Management and<br />

representatives from the Building Unit of the Department of<br />

Education and Science.<br />

Arising from this process, the following Design Team<br />

was selected:<br />

Architectural: RMJM Scotland<br />

Quantity Surveyors: Bruce Shaw partnership<br />

Mechanical & Electrical Engineering: Delap & Waller<br />

Civil & <strong>St</strong>ructural Engineering: Michael Punch and Partners<br />

Project Management: Bruce Shaw partnership<br />

As the formal appointment of the Design Team was being<br />

finalised, the <strong>College</strong> was requested to prepare a detailed Cost<br />

Benefit Analysis, as the project budget would exceed €30m.<br />

Indecon Consultants were engaged to conduct this analysis<br />

on behalf of the <strong>College</strong>. Following presentation of a<br />

satisfactory CBA, agreement to appoint the design team was<br />

received. The design team held their first formal meeting in<br />

June, and work on the project design is now proceeding.<br />

In advance of commencing the major building development,<br />

funding was received from the Higher Education Authority to<br />

repair/upgrade creaking infrastructure in the main buildings<br />

including heating pipes and radiators which will be replaced<br />

on a phased basis and electrical works and datalines in C<br />

Block. Prior to the Summer, a section of the ceiling in D<br />

block collapsed and repair work was carried out over the<br />

Summer involving replacement of the roof, water tanks and<br />

ceiling.<br />

Railway Procurement Agency<br />

The <strong>College</strong> continued discussions with the Railway<br />

Procurement Agency regarding the proposed route of the<br />

Metro line. The alternative routes being considered by the<br />

RPA for the Drumcondra/Griffith Avenue section of the new<br />

Metro include four routes which have a direct impact on the<br />

<strong>College</strong> campus. The <strong>College</strong> engaged a consultant to<br />

prepare a detailed submission to the Agency on its behalf and<br />

this was forwarded to the RPA. No decision was made on the<br />

final route by the end of the academic year.<br />

Quality Promotion<br />

The Quality Assurance office has as its mandate the task of<br />

maximising the quality of the learning experience and<br />

environment at <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>. Towards that end, the<br />

office facilitated a number of initiatives including the annual<br />

round of seed-funding awards, which seeks to reward and<br />

encourage creativity and initiative from members of staff.<br />

6


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

In 20<strong>07</strong> the following awards were made:<br />

Recipient<br />

Project Title<br />

Sorcha de Brún Establishment of an Irish<br />

Language Newsletter<br />

was put into operation for the first time. A new course on Arts,<br />

Learning and Community was also initiated in collaboration<br />

with the Primary Curriculum Support Programme (PCSP) for<br />

trainers and cuiditheoirí. This was led by Regina Murphy and<br />

Mary Howard and again attracted PCSP personnel from across<br />

the regions as well as from the Dublin area.<br />

Regina Murphy<br />

Andrew O'Shea<br />

Raymond Topley<br />

Inservice Periodical<br />

Evaluation of the Expanded<br />

Induction Programme<br />

MREd Graduate Consultation<br />

Workshop<br />

Building on relationships with local schools, three<br />

seminars were organised to meet the needs of primary<br />

teachers in particular:<br />

• Minority ethnic language children in Irish primary<br />

schools: A practical vision for a better future,<br />

presented by Karl Kitching and Rory McDaid.<br />

The unit increased its representation in national and<br />

international Quality Assurance networks and benefited<br />

greatly from the support of Dr Padraig Walsh and the Irish<br />

University Quality Board (IUQB), and Professor Muredach<br />

Dynan, former Vice-President for Quality Assurance in the<br />

Catholic University of Australia.<br />

Three areas underwent a formal peer review, the Mathematics<br />

Department, Audio-visual Department, and Information<br />

Technology Services. Following earlier reviews, the<br />

President’s Office and Roinn na Gaeilge submitted ambitious<br />

Quality Improvement Plans, which have been approved by<br />

the Governing Body.<br />

In June 20<strong>07</strong>, the <strong>College</strong> sanctioned the appointment of a<br />

director of Quality Assurance at Senior Lecturer level, as an<br />

indication of its commitment to the process. Dr Dáire Keogh<br />

of the History Department was appointed for a term of five<br />

years. He is assisted by Sharon King, Quality Assurance<br />

Administrator.<br />

In-career Education<br />

Reflecting the developments in national curricula at primary<br />

level and the needs of the system, a new accredited course in<br />

the area of Assessment for Learning (AfL) was offered to<br />

primary teachers in August <strong>2006</strong>. The course was lead by Dr<br />

Michael O’Leary and attracted teachers from across the<br />

Leinster region. Participants continued their study throughout<br />

the autumn and spring, and their work culminated at<br />

Certificate level with school-based research projects that<br />

illustrated a mastery of AfL principles.<br />

Other accredited inservice courses offered during the year<br />

included Primary Science and Visual Arts. There was a strong<br />

demand for places in the visual arts course and a waiting list<br />

• <strong>St</strong>ress relief for teachers: The coping triangle,<br />

presented by Dr Claire Hayes .<br />

• Literature circles: Engaging children’s emotions,<br />

imaginations, experiences and cognitive abilities,<br />

presented by Eithne Kennedy and Bernadette<br />

Dwyer.<br />

The seminars drew teachers from a wide range of settings<br />

including some colleagues from the post-primary sector.<br />

The first meeting of the new branch of the International<br />

Professional Development Association (IPDA) was held in the<br />

<strong>College</strong> on 2 April. IPDA, founded in the UK in 1958, is a<br />

voluntary organisation concerned with the provision, delivery<br />

and research of high quality Continuing Professional<br />

Development. The main aim of IPDA Ireland is to bring<br />

cohesion and find commonalities in CPD practice and<br />

development across a range of institutions and providers in<br />

various sectors, both North and the South. Regina Murphy<br />

from <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> and Maureen Killeavy from<br />

University <strong>College</strong> Dublin were elected as co-chairs. The<br />

committee includes representatives from a range of<br />

institutions North and South.<br />

Partnership<br />

Progress continued on Partnership issues during the year. The<br />

<strong>College</strong> submitted the relevant progress reports required<br />

under Sustaining Progress during the year. Sanction for the<br />

payment of related awards was received following agreement<br />

of satisfactory reporting by the Performance Verification<br />

Group.<br />

7


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Shane Guckian, winner of the O’Donoghue History medal, with Matthew <strong>St</strong>out, James Kelly and Pauric Travers<br />

The University / An Ollscoil<br />

Discussions on the revised linkage continued during the year. By the end of the academic year, the new linkage had been agreed<br />

by the Governing Authority of the University and plans were underway for a formal linkage signing ceremony.<br />

The Presidents of the University and the <strong>College</strong> also discussed the matter of Professorships for <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>. Professorships<br />

are seen as an essential part of the <strong>College</strong>’s status within the University sector. Their absence is a source of significant concern<br />

because of the impact on the attraction and retention of outstanding staff. The introduction of professorships has been agreed by<br />

the <strong>College</strong> and the Univeristy. It is intended that they will be introduced as part of the new linkage agreement.<br />

The <strong>College</strong> continued to participate actively in CASTEL, an innovative initiative across the University, to promote Science and<br />

Mathematics education. A number of joint conferences have been organised and further activities are planned.<br />

Graduation <strong>2006</strong><br />

The University Graduation Ceremonies for <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> took place on 10 and 11 November in the <strong>College</strong> Auditorium.<br />

There were four ceremonies held over two days. The University President, Professor von Prondzynski, conferred a total of 834<br />

graduands from 14 different programmes with their degrees, certificates or diplomas. PhDs were conferred on two candidates. In<br />

his graduation address, the President of the <strong>College</strong>, Dr Travers, spoke about the challenges faced by schools in recent times in<br />

embracing a multi-cultural society. He cited an example of one school in North County Dublin which admitted its first<br />

international pupil less than a decade ago. In the intervening period the school has quadrupled in size and more than 40% of the<br />

children are New Irish. Many arrive in our schools without any English. Cherishing all the children and promoting an inclusive<br />

society will remain empty slogans if these challenges are not faced. He spoke about initiatives of the NCCA who issued guidelines<br />

on inter-cultural education in Primary Schools and the Development and Intercultural (DICE) project in the <strong>College</strong>s of Education.<br />

The <strong>College</strong>s must also look at the issue of inclusion in the area of ethnic diversity. The absence of role-models in schools has a<br />

significant impact on student achievement. Failure to address this, Dr Travers predicted, will contribute to disaffection and<br />

alienation in schools, which inevitably translate into disaffection and alienation in the wider society.<br />

At this year’s graduation, a posthumous award was accepted by the family of <strong>St</strong>even O’Donoghue, who passed away after<br />

completing his final year examinations. <strong>St</strong>even had completed the BA in English and Human Development as a mature student.<br />

He also completed an Erasmus placement in Bulgaria as part of his studies. His degree was accepted by his two children. Marie<br />

Elders, who started the BA programme with <strong>St</strong>even in 2003, passed away at the end of her first year of study. Her husband Bob<br />

Elders attended the Graduation to meet with Marie’s class. A moment’s silence was observed in memory of <strong>St</strong>even and Marie.<br />

The awards presented at Graduation are listed in the Awards/Honours section of this report.<br />

8


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

Des Slowey, PhD graduate with Dr Pat Burke<br />

Graduates of the In-Service Certificate and Diploma<br />

Ciaran and Niamh O’Donoghue, who accepted a<br />

posthumous award on behalf of their father, <strong>St</strong>even,<br />

who passed away at the end of Summer <strong>2006</strong><br />

9


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Digital Age / An Ré Dhigiteach<br />

TeachNet<br />

The TeachNet Ireland project, with Dr Deirdre Butler as<br />

Director, provides professional development and support to<br />

teachers in Irish primary and post primary schools to enable<br />

them publish online curriculum resources to the wider<br />

teaching public. To date the project has published 391 online<br />

curriculum units and these are available free of charge<br />

through the website (www.teachnet.ie ). In conjunction with<br />

Teachers Network, New York, TeachNet has developed a<br />

global database of TeachNet curriculum units fostering a<br />

global online and offline professional network of teachers<br />

effectively using technology to enhance student learning.<br />

The main project sponsors are the Citigroup Foundation with<br />

further sponsorship from the Ireland Funds, Microsoft and the<br />

National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE). Over the<br />

past six years of operation, TeachNet Ireland has established<br />

itself as the main resource for teacher published curriculum<br />

online in Ireland and has played a key role in impacting<br />

student learning and achievement through the use of<br />

technology as a classroom tool. The TeachNet website now<br />

gets 83,000 unique visitors on average per month (2.3m hits<br />

per month) making it consistently one of the most used Irish<br />

educational websites. A monthly e-newsletter is also<br />

distributed electronically to over 1,400 teachers across<br />

Ireland.<br />

TeachNet Ireland’s annual awards ceremony took place in the<br />

Institute of Bankers on 2nd November <strong>2006</strong>. Tom Kitt TD,<br />

Minister of <strong>St</strong>ate at the Department of the Taoiseach and<br />

Government Chief Whip, awarded grants to 45 primary and<br />

post primary teachers to assist them in delivering their<br />

subjects online. Speaking at the event, Aidan Brady, CEO of<br />

Citigroup, said “Citigroup Ireland is proud to be associated<br />

with such an exciting and worthwhile program as TeachNet. It<br />

is important that while we continue to support TeachNet, we<br />

are updating the program to meet the demands of our<br />

knowledge society. I am confident that this project will<br />

ultimately meet the aims of the Citigroup Foundation to allow<br />

children to acquire the knowledge and skills to find a<br />

rewarding career, manage their lives, and fully participate in<br />

society.”<br />

In keeping with the <strong>College</strong>’s mission statement of extending<br />

10


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

its links with schools, TeachNet co-organised a day-long<br />

seminar entitled "The Internet Experience in Schools". Dr<br />

Deirdre Butler presented a keynote entitled “Learning for the<br />

21st Century”. The event was hosted at Tipperary Institute on 7<br />

June and targeted teachers in the midlands region.<br />

started with just 4 schools initially and has grown to include<br />

over 50 schools in Dublin, Kildare, Sligo, Laois, Tipperary,<br />

Kilkenny and Roscommon. In the Empowering Minds project<br />

<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra, partners with the National<br />

Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE), Diageo Liberties<br />

Learning Initiative in the Digital Hub, the Dublin Inner-city<br />

Schools Computerisation project (DISC), and teachers and<br />

pupils of participating schools.<br />

Eolas (Enhancing Online Learning and Support)<br />

Online teaching and learning activity continued apace during<br />

06/<strong>07</strong>. The Enhancing Online Learning and Support initiative<br />

(eolas) progressed on three fronts. Firstly, there was upgrading<br />

and consolidation of chosen learning technology<br />

applications. This entailed the rollout of new versions of the<br />

Moodle virtual learning environment and of Wimba, the live<br />

classroom environment. Secondly, a number of new<br />

programmes began during the year. Most significantly these<br />

included a welcome for the first online MEd cohort.<br />

Developments in online provision continued across the<br />

<strong>College</strong> courses at all levels. Approval was received from the<br />

DES for a joint programme in Special Education with the<br />

Institute of Child Psychology Europe (ICEP). Finally, having<br />

consolidated progess made over previous years there was a<br />

focus on planning for the future. <strong>St</strong>aff development needs and<br />

student management systems were identified as key areas for<br />

attention. Eolas continues to enjoy widespread support across<br />

the <strong>College</strong> community.<br />

Ronan Ward<br />

Ronan Ward, a primary school teacher at S.N. Muire na<br />

nGael, Dundalk, and a member of the TeachNet network,<br />

won an Innovative Teacher Award at the EMEA Innovative<br />

Teachers Forum 20<strong>07</strong> in Paris, France. Sponsored by<br />

Microsoft in collaboration with UNESCO, this event brought<br />

together more than 150 forward-thinking educators<br />

representing 40 countries across Europe, the Middle East and<br />

Africa. His winning project, in the Community Learning<br />

category was entitled ‘Who Lives Here?’ Utilising a range of<br />

digital technologies the project encouraged pupils to<br />

investigate the diversity of multiculturalism by exploring<br />

backgrounds of people who differ in colour, religion, culture<br />

and nationality living in modern day Ireland. Engaging in this<br />

project challenged pupils to examine their feelings and beliefs<br />

towards other ethnic groups.<br />

Empowering Minds<br />

Over 300 of Ireland’s future designers, engineers and<br />

programmers came to the <strong>College</strong> for the Seventh annual<br />

Robo-Show on 16 May. This event is the highlight of the<br />

Empowering Minds community enabling children (aged 7 –<br />

13 years) and their teachers share the innovative projects they<br />

have been constructing over the course of the school year. The<br />

children engage in multi-disciplinary cross-curricular learning<br />

and make extensive use of a range of digital technologies to<br />

build these exciting and imaginative projects. This dynamic<br />

community which was initiated in 1998 by Dr Deirdre Butler,<br />

11


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Educational Research Centre /<br />

An Foras Taighde ar Oideachas<br />

A major event of the year was the publication of the results of<br />

a large-scale international study of the achievements in<br />

reading, mathematics, and science of 15-year-old students<br />

(Reading for Tomorrow’s World? The Competencies of<br />

Ireland’s 15-year-olds in PISA <strong>2006</strong>). The Irish component of<br />

the study, which was the responsibility of the Educational<br />

Research Centre, involved over four and a half thousand<br />

pupils responding to tests and questionnaires in 165 schools.<br />

pupils in ordinary schools) and for the identification of<br />

children who are at risk of reading difficulties at an early stage<br />

in their schooling.<br />

In an evaluation of some aspects of Giving Children an Even<br />

Break (GCEB), the use of resources and positive<br />

discrimination with regard to class size are among the topics<br />

being investigated.<br />

The results of the study were similar to those of earlier studies.<br />

Irish students consistently perform well in reading. In <strong>2006</strong>,<br />

they were placed fifth of 56 participating countries, and<br />

second among European countries. Performance in science,<br />

however, was only slightly above the average for OECD<br />

countries, and was just average in mathematics.<br />

The performance in mathematics of Irish students was<br />

explored further in the publication PISA Mathematics: A<br />

Teacher’s Guide. Detailed analyses of Irish students’<br />

performance (in a 2003 study) were carried out, on the basis<br />

of which recommendations to teachers were made for<br />

improving student achievement. In particular, the need to<br />

develop higher-order competencies and to provide students<br />

with opportunities to engage with real-world problems was<br />

identified.<br />

Aspects of science education were also explored in a<br />

publication entitled Implementing the Revised Junior<br />

Certificate Science Syllabus. What Teachers Said. The report<br />

concluded that the revised syllabus seemed to have achieved<br />

some, but not all, of its aims. While there was a shift to a<br />

more practical method of teaching, the change was hampered<br />

by implementation difficulties. Closer liaison between<br />

primary-school science and Junior Certificate science was<br />

recommended.<br />

Work commenced in 20<strong>07</strong> on an evaluation of the School<br />

Support Programme component of Delivering Equality of<br />

Opportunity in School (DEIS) at primary and post-primary<br />

levels. The evaluation is designed to monitor the<br />

implementation of the programme and assess its impact on<br />

students, families, schools, and communities. The evaluation<br />

has a number of elements, including the monitoring of change<br />

in achievement and other pupil outcomes over the period<br />

<strong>2006</strong>/7 to 2009/10. Other planned activities include surveys<br />

of schools to assess their progress in relation to targets<br />

specified in their DEIS action plans, and the extent to which<br />

specific elements of the scheme have been implemented. The<br />

evaluation will also focus on particular groups in participating<br />

schools. For example, a study of pupils showing early signs of<br />

reading difficulties is scheduled to begin in October 20<strong>07</strong>.<br />

Preparatory work for a survey of the learning environment and<br />

working conditions of teachers in post-primary schools<br />

(Teaching and Learning International Survey) was carried out<br />

during the year. The main survey is scheduled for February/<br />

March 2008 in 200 schools.<br />

A study carried out for the National Educational Welfare<br />

Board identified varieties of school non-attendance (in<br />

primary and post-primary schools), their socioeconomic<br />

correlates, and their impact on schools and students.<br />

The revision of standardized achievement tests for use in<br />

primary schools to reflect changes in the curriculum<br />

continued during the year. Following publication of the<br />

Drumcondra Primary Mathematics Test – Revised in <strong>2006</strong>, the<br />

Drumcondra Primary Reading Test – Revised was<br />

administered to representative samples of primary school<br />

pupils. Norms for subtest and total reading scores were<br />

established, and the revised test was published and made<br />

available to schools in 20<strong>07</strong>.<br />

Other work in progress at the Centre includes statistical<br />

methodology applied to education, in particular multilevel<br />

models; issues arising from Early <strong>St</strong>art; and the preparation of<br />

workbooks to develop skills in national assessment.<br />

Publications/Reports by Centre <strong>St</strong>aff<br />

The major publications and reports of ERC staff during this<br />

period are included below under <strong>St</strong>aff Publications.<br />

Tests are also being developed for Irish language (one for<br />

pupils in Gaeltacht and Irish-medium schools, and one for<br />

12


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education /<br />

An Lárionad um Fhorbairt agus Oideachas na Luath-Óige<br />

A key objective of the CECDE was to develop a quality<br />

framework for early childhood education. This was delivered<br />

on in May <strong>2006</strong> when the Centre published Síolta, the<br />

National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education.<br />

This Framework is the result of three years of consultation and<br />

research and is intended to provide support and guidance for<br />

all those working with, and on behalf of, children.<br />

The materials were the result of a strategic partnership<br />

between CECDE and FÁS, the National Training Agency. They<br />

are intended to guide the ECCE practitioner through Síolta,<br />

demonstrating how to embed new knowledge in the everyday<br />

practical activities and management of settings. The ultimate<br />

goal of the Workshop Materials is to promote practical<br />

implementation of Síolta in all ECCE settings and to assist the<br />

development of professional practice by connecting theory to<br />

practice in a meaningful, accessible way.<br />

At the Síolta Workshop Seminar, the participating CCCs were<br />

invited to conduct a Síolta Workshop in the period following<br />

the Seminar, Summer 20<strong>07</strong>. The CCCs then have an<br />

opportunity to use and evaluate both the Síolta Workshop<br />

Materials and the Síolta Workshop Model. Feedback was<br />

extremely positive and further Workshop Seminars are<br />

planned to offer this opportunity to more stakeholders in the<br />

ECCE sector.<br />

CECDE assisted the Department of Education and Science in<br />

the design of and preparation for the early childhood<br />

education strand of the DEIS (Delivering Equality of<br />

Opportunity in Schools) programme, a major initiative to<br />

combat educational disadvantage among school children. A<br />

substantial proposal was submitted for an early education<br />

strategy as part of the DEIS Initiative in May <strong>2006</strong>. Following a<br />

comprehensive survey of Band 1 Urban DEIS schools with an<br />

intake of Junior Infants, a further report was submitted in<br />

October <strong>2006</strong>. Finally, in December <strong>2006</strong> CECDE submitted a<br />

discussion document on the possible parameters for selection<br />

of schools to be involved in the initial examination and early<br />

provision of services under the Early Education strand of DEIS.<br />

Another main objective of CECDE is "to develop targeted<br />

interventions on a pilot basis for children who are<br />

educationally disadvantaged and children with special<br />

needs". Five separate pieces of research were commissioned<br />

in 2003, and in <strong>2006</strong> their findings were published as the<br />

CECDE Research Series <strong>2006</strong>.<br />

Following the launch of Síolta, CECDE developed a workshop<br />

model to offer practitioners a ‘hands-on’ experience of<br />

reflecting on their own practice, with their peers in the<br />

context of the provisions of the Framework. Following a<br />

period of almost six months in which workshops on a number<br />

of different <strong>St</strong>andards were conducted, CECDE reviewed the<br />

process. Demand for the workshops had far exceeded<br />

expectations and there was a continuous stream of requests<br />

for more workshops.<br />

Having established that demand existed and achieved the<br />

initial objective of disseminating Síolta and demonstrated its<br />

potential as a resource for practitioners, CECDE decided to<br />

move onto the next phase of dissemination and to share the<br />

model with the wider ECCE sector. In April of 20<strong>07</strong>, CECDE<br />

held a Síolta Workshop Seminar at which staff from the City<br />

and County Childcare Committees (CCCs) were inducted into<br />

the processes and materials associated with the Síolta<br />

Workshop Model.<br />

A crucial component of the roll out of the Síolta Workshop<br />

Model was the production of the Síolta Workshop Materials.<br />

The titles of these projects were as follows:<br />

• Early Years Provision for Children from Birth to Six Years<br />

with Special Needs in Two Geographical Areas in<br />

Ireland (Researchers: Special Education Department, <strong>St</strong><br />

Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra)<br />

• An In-Career Development Programme for Teachers and<br />

Management in Pre-Schools for Travellers<br />

(Barnardos/INTO)<br />

• Synergy - An Exploration of High Quality Early<br />

Intervention for Children with Special Needs in Diverse<br />

Rural Settings (The North Tipperary Early Intervention<br />

Service)<br />

• Early Assessment and Intervention in Educational<br />

Disadvantage (The Centre for Social and Educational<br />

Research, DIT)<br />

• In Search of Quality: Multiple Perspectives (CSER, DIT)<br />

Both the full versions (online only) and the published<br />

executive summaries are available for download on the<br />

CECDE website at www.cecde.ie.<br />

13


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Educational Disadvantage Centre /<br />

An tIonad um Oideachas faoi Mhíbhuntáiste<br />

The Educational Disadvantage Centre brought a number of<br />

research projects to fruition during the year, launching<br />

commissioned reports and the book Beyond Educational<br />

Disadvantage, for use at preservice and in-service levels, as<br />

well as continuing to engage with programmes in the wider<br />

community.<br />

Commissioned by the South Inner City Community<br />

Development Association (SICCDA) and authored by Dr Paul Downes and Dr Catherine Maunsell, the report Count Us In. Tackling<br />

early school leaving in South West Inner City Dublin: An integrated response was launched by Minister for Education and Science,<br />

Mary Hanafin, during the SICCDA conference at the Guinness <strong>St</strong>orehouse on 28 June. Paul Downes was the keynote speaker at the<br />

conference. The launch of A holistic approach to early school leaving and school retention in Blanchardstown: Current issues and<br />

future steps for services and schools (authors: Paul Downes, Catherine Maunsell and Jo-Hanna Ivers), commissioned by the<br />

Blanchardstown Area Partnership took place on 6 December. Joe Kennedy, Head of the Dublin School Completion Programme,<br />

gave the keynote address.<br />

The QDOSS (Quality Development of Out of School Services) network hosted a conference on 14 December in Dublin Castle. The<br />

topic was ‘Out of School Services – their role in influencing and enabling educational outcomes for children and young people’. A<br />

report entitled 'Quality Development of Out of School Services: An agenda for development,' compiled by Dr Paul Downes, was<br />

also launched at this conference. Brian Lenihan, Minister for Children, opened the conference. The Educational Disadvantage<br />

Centre chaired the QDOSS network throughout 20<strong>07</strong>.<br />

A total of 124 children from the 3rd Year BEd Elective schools in Ballyfermot visited the <strong>College</strong> between February and May 20<strong>07</strong>.<br />

Coordinated by Valerie McLoughlin, Sport 4 Success ran three days a week for the year. Forty children from two classes in <strong>St</strong><br />

Laurence O’Toole, Sheriff <strong>St</strong>. and one class in Holy Spirit BNS, Ballymun, attended the <strong>College</strong> each week for sport, food and<br />

homework club. Twenty students volunteered to mentor the children. Eleven MEd students commenced the Special Option in<br />

Educational Disadvantage.<br />

The Centre Director, Paul Downes was an advisor to Amnesty International for their international report Estonia: Linguistic minorities<br />

in Estonia: Discrimination must end (December <strong>2006</strong>) and was a guest speaker with Professor Tom Collins at a local forum on<br />

education in Diswellstown, Dublin 15, chaired by Olivia O’Leary, on 27 March 20<strong>07</strong>.<br />

14


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

Seamus Heaney Lecture Series /<br />

Sraith Léachtaí Seamus Heaney<br />

Tom Kilroy and friends<br />

The theme of the <strong>2006</strong>/20<strong>07</strong> Seamus Heaney Lecture Series,<br />

was “The Mirror Up to Nature”: Drama and Theatre in the<br />

Modern World'. The series focussed on the world's heritage of<br />

great drama deriving from the Greeks, including the Irish<br />

contribution, as well as on the educational potential of drama<br />

and theatre. The issue of drama's survival in a globalised<br />

world was addressed.<br />

The opening lecture, ‘The Magic That Is Theatre’ on 9 October<br />

was given by the eminent director and former Artistic Director<br />

of the Abbey Theatre, Patrick Mason.<br />

On 13 November, the distinguished playwright, Thomas<br />

Kilroy, delivered a lecture entitled ‘The Irish Contribution’ to a<br />

capacity audience which included Brian Friel and Seamus<br />

Heaney (pictured above).<br />

The third lecture in the series was delivered by the renowned<br />

international scholar, Professor Ania Loomba from the<br />

University of Pensylvania, on the subject ‘The Drama of<br />

Politics, the Politics of Drama’.<br />

Professor Neelands drew attention<br />

to drama as ritual, as entertainment,<br />

as liberation and gave compelling<br />

examples of its integrative power in<br />

the context of the challenges raised<br />

by our new multi-cultural societies.<br />

On 5 March, Dr Brenna Clarke of<br />

the Engish Department in the<br />

<strong>College</strong>, spoke on ‘Drama and<br />

Film, The Dynamics of Difference:<br />

From Boucicault to Beckett - From<br />

Real to Reel’. Dr Clarke explored<br />

differences and similarities between<br />

theatre and cinema.<br />

The final lecture in the series took<br />

place on 23 April with a<br />

combination of scholarship and<br />

performance, chaired by Professor<br />

Nicholas Greene, Trinity <strong>College</strong>,<br />

Dublin. The scholarship came from<br />

Dr John Buckley of the Department<br />

of Music who spoke on Opera,<br />

Music and Theatre. He traced the<br />

evolution of opera from its<br />

beginnings in seventeenth-century<br />

Florence to the modern era and<br />

then described the artistic process<br />

involved for himself, as well as the<br />

writer, Hugh Maxton, in transferring<br />

Yeats's play, 'The Words Upon the<br />

Window Pane' into operatic form.<br />

This was followed by performance:<br />

Imelda McDonagh reading 'Swift'<br />

and 'Vanessa' from Yeats's play, and<br />

Colette McGahon (accompanied by<br />

Roy Holmes) singing the<br />

corresponding sections from John<br />

Buckley's opera.<br />

Imelda McDonagh<br />

Colette McGahon<br />

Following a short Christmas break, the series resumed with<br />

two lectures on Theatre in Education. Professor Cecily O’Neill<br />

(Ohio <strong>St</strong>ate University) spoke on the topic ‘What is drama in<br />

education – imagination in action’. Professor Jonothan<br />

Neelands of Warwick University gave a lecture entitled<br />

‘Drama as Mirror or Dynamo?. In championing more<br />

democratic, 'ensemble' models of drama and theatre,<br />

The organising committee<br />

comprised Pat Burke (Chair),<br />

Noreen Doody, Mary Howard,<br />

Marian Lyons, Paula Murphy, Anne<br />

O'Reilly, Mary Shine Thompson and<br />

Denis Twomey.<br />

Roy Holmes<br />

15


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Academic Council /<br />

An Chomhairle Acadúil<br />

Academic Council and its <strong>St</strong>anding Committee each met on<br />

six occasions during the year.<br />

BA Mature <strong>St</strong>udents Committee / Coiste Mac Léinn<br />

Lánfhásta BA<br />

In liaison with the Admissions Officer, the committee oversaw<br />

Among the matters considered by Academic Council were:<br />

• Plagiarism<br />

• First year induction and orientation<br />

• Career structure<br />

• Scholarship programme<br />

• Human Rights Education<br />

• Presentation on the newly established Teaching Council<br />

the interviewing and selection of mature applicants for the BA<br />

programme. Members continued to be actively involved in<br />

the induction of incoming students and the <strong>College</strong> Open<br />

Day, as well as organising the annual social occasion for<br />

mature students and their partners. The committee assisted in<br />

organising a tutor system, and, in conjunction with the<br />

English department, writing workshops for students.<br />

by Áine Lawlor, Director of Teaching Council<br />

• Department of Education and Science Report: Learning<br />

to Teach: <strong>St</strong>udents on Teaching Practice in Irish Primary<br />

Schools<br />

• Inservice Certificate/Diploma in Education: proposal for<br />

a new pathway in Special/Inclusive Education<br />

• Building and Refurbishment Programme<br />

• Report on INTO conference on Teacher Education<br />

• Annual statistics on student enrolment and progression<br />

• Annual reports from subcommittees of Academic<br />

B.Ed. Mature <strong>St</strong>udent & PG Diploma Entry / Coiste d’Iontráil<br />

Mac Léinn Lánfhásta B.Oid. & Dioplóma Iarchéime<br />

The committee, in conjunction with the Admissions Officer,<br />

organised the interviewing and selection of mature applicants<br />

for the B.Ed. degree, as well as applicants for the Graduate<br />

Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching) programme. This<br />

work was conducted in collaboration with Coláiste Mhuire,<br />

Marino and Froebel <strong>College</strong> of Education, Sion Hill,<br />

Blackrock.<br />

Council<br />

• Academic calendar for 20<strong>07</strong>-08<br />

Information Technology Committee / Coiste Theicneolaíocht<br />

an Eolais<br />

Areas addressed by the committee included the <strong>St</strong>udent<br />

Academic Council Subcommittees / Fochoistí<br />

Academic Council subcommittees constituted for the period<br />

2005-08 continued with their important work. Subcommittees<br />

provide Academic Council with an Annual Report, and<br />

<strong>St</strong>anding Committee with confirmed minutes of their<br />

meetings.<br />

Laptop initiative, facilities for the growing number of students<br />

who use their own laptops on campus, and the continued<br />

expansion of the wireless network. Remote access to library<br />

services was reported to be running very successfully.<br />

Permission was obtained from a number of publishers for<br />

students to temporarily install educational software for the<br />

duration of Teaching Practice for use with pupils in schools.<br />

Access Committee / Coiste Rochtana<br />

Issues addressed by the committee, in liaison with the Access<br />

Officer, included: continued promotion and awareness-raising<br />

of the access programme; pre-entry activities and supports for<br />

prospective students; supports for the growing number of<br />

Also discussed by the committee were: the student record<br />

system, the increasing use of Moodle in teaching, plagiarism<br />

software, SPSS software, and network connectivity issues. The<br />

committee continued to organise competency courses for<br />

incoming students on the BA, BEd and Graduate Diploma<br />

registered students;<br />

Open Doors project. The first access<br />

programmes, noting a decrease in the number of students<br />

needing this support.<br />

students enrolled in the college in 2004 successfully completed<br />

their degree programmes in <strong>2006</strong>-<strong>07</strong>.<br />

16


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

Intercultural and Development Education Committee /<br />

Coiste Idirchultúrtha agus Oideachais Forbartha<br />

This committee continued its work on curriculum issues,<br />

commencing a review of existing trends within the BEd<br />

experience in relation to diversity, understood in a wide<br />

sense; two subgroups were set up, to identify specific content<br />

with a diversity focus, and to examine the possibility of<br />

including a diversity element in the teaching practice<br />

experience over the three years. <strong>St</strong>aff of the <strong>College</strong>, and the<br />

committee in particular, were greatly saddened by the<br />

untimely death of esteemed member Barbara Gill whose<br />

contribution to IDEC and development and intercultural<br />

education had been outstanding.<br />

Interdepartmental Committee / Coiste Eadar-Rannach<br />

Among the principal topics considered by this committee<br />

during the year were administrative support for departments,<br />

plagiarism, undergraduate degree classifications, first year<br />

induction and advisory sessions. Also addressed were:<br />

<strong>College</strong> structures, final year examination statistics for BA and<br />

BEd, copyright issues, examination payments for senior staff<br />

and room maintenance.<br />

research activity among staff. Many collaborative projects are<br />

also being undertaken in both the Education and Humanities<br />

areas; partners in these initiatives include cross-border and<br />

international colleges and universities, and inter college of<br />

education consortia. A partnership was also initiated with<br />

colleagues from NUIM, <strong>DCU</strong> and Dundalk IT as part of An<br />

Foras Feasa. Significant funding has been attracted through<br />

these projects. The Research committee considered a large<br />

number of requests from staff, seeking financial support for<br />

research, approving grants totalling up to €70,000. The<br />

number of registered research students was 41, with over half<br />

of these pursuing a doctoral programme. The Research Ethics<br />

subcommittee, established in 2005 and now embedded in the<br />

research culture of the <strong>College</strong>, reviewed its terms of<br />

reference and refined its guidelines for researchers and its<br />

instruments for ethical review of research projects, in addition<br />

to delivering research ethics workshops.<br />

<strong>St</strong>aff Recruitment Committee / Coiste Earcaíochta Foirne<br />

Comprehensive statistics were collated on staff engagement in<br />

various aspects of the work of the <strong>College</strong>, and presented to<br />

Academic Council.<br />

International Affairs Committee / Coiste Gnóthaí<br />

Idirnáisiúnta<br />

This committee organised a wide range of European staff and<br />

student exchanges as part of the Socrates-Erasmus<br />

programme, and oversaw American exchange programmes<br />

with the Universities of Chico (Cal.), Northern Colorado,<br />

Merrimack <strong>College</strong> (Mass.). The successful partnership with<br />

the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic<br />

Education (ACE) continued. The first group of students<br />

undertaking the BEd International successfully completed<br />

their four-year degree programme. A number of social and<br />

cultural events were organised for visiting students, as well as<br />

a very successful induction course in January 20<strong>07</strong>.<br />

Teaching and Learning Committee / Coiste Teagaisc agus<br />

Foghlama<br />

The committee welcomed Dr Jean Ware as incoming Chair, in<br />

succession to Susan Pike. The annual funding for staff<br />

professional development was allocated to successful<br />

applicants. Plans were discussed for a series of seminars on<br />

the topic of issues in Adult Learning. Other topics addressed<br />

by the committee included teaching spaces and plans for the<br />

new <strong>College</strong> buildings.<br />

Research Committee / Coiste Taighde<br />

The committee issued the eleventh annual Academic <strong>St</strong>aff<br />

Research Report / Tuairisc ar Thaighde Acadúil, covering the<br />

period January to December <strong>2006</strong>, compiled by Dr Mary<br />

Shine Thompson, Dean, using <strong>DCU</strong>’s Research Support<br />

System (Genius). This report details the large amount of<br />

17


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Administrative/<strong>St</strong>udent Support Services /<br />

Seirbhíshí Riaracháin/Taca do Mhic Léinn<br />

Fr Eamonn Cowan and Carol Barry<br />

Voluntary Summer work in Addis Ababa<br />

Chaplaincy<br />

The past year has been busy for the chaplaincy team. Apart<br />

from the usual things associated with chaplaincy such as<br />

Opening Mass, Advent Carol Service, <strong>St</strong> Vincent De Paul<br />

Society, there have been a number of new developments.<br />

A number of students and staff were happy to join the Liturgy<br />

Group, which was established with a view to providing new<br />

ideas, suggestions and involvement in planning Liturgies in<br />

the <strong>College</strong>. The <strong>College</strong> Folk Group linked up with the<br />

Confirmation and First Communion classes in <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s<br />

National School to provide musical support in relation to the<br />

sacramental preparation programmes in the school. The<br />

children attended a number of Masses in the chapel in which<br />

the students of the <strong>College</strong> also participated.<br />

Sadly, two mature students, <strong>St</strong>even O Donoghue and Colin<br />

Byrne died suddenly in the late summer of <strong>2006</strong>. Mass for<br />

<strong>St</strong>even and Colin was offered in the <strong>College</strong> chapel on 29<br />

November to which members of their families were invited,<br />

and which provided the <strong>College</strong> community with an<br />

opportunity to mourne their passing. Michael Dillon, retired<br />

Head of the Geography Department, died in March and the<br />

<strong>College</strong> chapel was the location for his months-mind Mass in<br />

mid April.<br />

In collaboration with the Good Shepherd Sisters, the<br />

chaplaincy team promoted a Share Fair. Hand-made goods<br />

produced by women in countries such as Vietnam and the<br />

Philippines were sold. Money raised through the sale of goods<br />

goes back to those involved in their production. Apart from<br />

providing an outlet for the goods, Share Fair heightens<br />

awareness of issues around justice and equality. The <strong>College</strong><br />

community responded generously to this second Share Fair<br />

event. Some students and staff have participated in an<br />

outreach supported by the Vincentians and Daughters of<br />

Charity in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The project is built on the<br />

underpinning of a faith community, and requires the<br />

commitment to five or six weeks to working with young<br />

people who have very little material possessions. To date five<br />

or six former or present students and one member of staff<br />

have participated in the project. Essentially it involves<br />

insertion, for a short time, in an ongoing educational<br />

involvement with children and young adults in the Ethiopian<br />

capital. For participants, it entails exposure to another reality<br />

in our world and is enriching for all involved.<br />

Admissions<br />

The Admissions Office plays a critical role in the operation of<br />

the <strong>College</strong>. During the year, staff provided information on<br />

the varied programmes and courses offered by the <strong>College</strong>.<br />

The hectic schedule included the promotion and<br />

administration of undergraduate and post-graduate courses.<br />

Admissions staff attended in excess of 40 information talks<br />

and careers evenings throughout the country. <strong>St</strong>aff also<br />

18


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

represented the <strong>College</strong> at a number of CAO conference<br />

meetings. These provided a key opportunity for Guidance<br />

Counsellors to interact directly with members of Admissions<br />

Offices in other third level institutions.<br />

<strong>St</strong>aff also attended a number of Career Exhibitions, including<br />

The Higher Options Conference (RDS) and the Fás<br />

Opportunities Event (Croke Park). <strong>St</strong>aff working at the <strong>College</strong><br />

Exhibition <strong>St</strong>and availed of the opportunity to promote <strong>St</strong><br />

Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> as an appealing Third Level option.<br />

Open Day - November <strong>2006</strong><br />

The academic year <strong>2006</strong>-<strong>07</strong> saw the Admissions Office<br />

introduce a number of initiatives aimed at enhancing its<br />

services while planning and organising the <strong>College</strong> Open Day<br />

which generated very positive feedback.<br />

Access<br />

This year saw significant developments for the Access Project<br />

as for the first time the programme was open to all schools in<br />

the Dublin area. Some 200 schools were written to in January<br />

informing them of the opportunity for students to apply for the<br />

Access Programme mode of entry.<br />

The first two students to gain entry to the <strong>College</strong> through the<br />

access programme in 2003 finished their final exams and<br />

prepared themselves for Graduation. The Access Office<br />

continued to work closely with existing linked DEIS schools,<br />

seven of which were visited for information, motivational and<br />

advice sessions with 5th and 6th year pupils. The Access<br />

Officer attended Careers Fairs including Inchicore and<br />

Tallaght and also the Higher Options Fair in Croke Park.<br />

The Open Doors project continued to run pre-entry visits with<br />

a group of students from Mercy <strong>College</strong>, Coolock, who took<br />

part in a series of workshops on Third Level Education. Two<br />

current Access students participated. The Open Doors project<br />

also took on a new focus with a group of mixed ability<br />

teenagers from the New Life Centre in Darndale attending a<br />

series of evening Art workshops, hosted by a community<br />

artist. The New Life Centre run by the Vincentians is a Youth<br />

Activity Club for children resident in the area. The pupils who<br />

were involved in the project stretched across three of our<br />

targeted schools; Coláiste Dhúlaigh, Belcamp <strong>College</strong> and The<br />

Donaghies. The project was very successful, with positive<br />

responses towards staying in the education system from a<br />

majority of participants at the end of the six sessions.<br />

The Grants Information Service continued to assist and advise<br />

students on Local Authority Grants with referrals from a range<br />

of <strong>College</strong> Departments. Seven new Access students<br />

registered in October - three BEd and four BA students. All<br />

new students took part in a two–day orientation programme<br />

that introduced them to the services available to them in the<br />

<strong>College</strong> (IT skills, Library usage) and also seminars on the<br />

functions and demands of third level education. These<br />

activities are designed to facilitate transition into their<br />

respective courses and promote engagement with the <strong>College</strong><br />

community. Personal support meetings continued to be held<br />

with each student. A TP skills workshop was organised for first<br />

year BEds with second and third year BEds acting as mentors.<br />

This form of Peer Mentoring has proved to be quite effective<br />

in TP outcomes for Access students. Extra tuition was also<br />

made available to students who needed support with<br />

coursework.<br />

The Access Officer continued membership of the national<br />

Access Officers group (AMA) attending meetings in TCD,<br />

NUIM and UCC. Membership of the board of the Ballymun<br />

Initiative for Third level Education (BITE) involved attendance<br />

at meetings throughout the year. SPD Access Office was also<br />

invited to join the Millennium Fund Committee in Ballymun.<br />

Among other seminars and functions attended was the launch<br />

of the evaluation report carried out last year by the Access<br />

Office and organised by the National Office for Equity of<br />

Access and also a round-table discussion of attracting and<br />

retaining ethnic minorities to Third Level Education organised<br />

jointly by NCCRI and the NOEA. SPD was also represented<br />

by the Access Office at AHEAD’s “Inclusive Education”<br />

conference.<br />

Disability<br />

The Access Office dealt with queries from two potential<br />

students with disabilities, which involved campus visits, and,<br />

in the case of one student meetings with Academic staff from<br />

departments they wished to study under. 12 students<br />

registered with the Disability service, some merely for<br />

information and advice but a core group of five attended<br />

regular personal support meetings. Three applications were<br />

19


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

forwarded to the Special Fund for <strong>St</strong>udents with Disabilities<br />

for various types of assistance (transport costs, Personal<br />

Assistant funding) and all three were fully funded. The total<br />

amount received by these students was approximately €5000<br />

for this year.<br />

<strong>St</strong>udent Counselling<br />

A total of 85 students attended for ongoing individual<br />

counselling this year. This figure is consistent with previous<br />

years and represents 3.4% of the total student population.<br />

While students presented for counselling with a range of<br />

issues, personal issues were the most frequently cited reasons<br />

for seeking help. The more serious end of this spectrum<br />

included depression, suicidal ideation, eating issues,<br />

childhood and adult trauma. The majority of students who<br />

attended for counselling referred themselves.<br />

Individual counselling sessions totalled 560, an increase of<br />

108 on last year’s figure of 452 and is the highest figure<br />

recorded to date. The distribution of sessions throughout the<br />

year is illustrated in the graph below and was similar to<br />

previous years. November, February, March and May were the<br />

busiest months. On average, students attended for 7 sessions<br />

an increase of 1 session on last year, thus the trend as in<br />

previous years is towards short-term counselling. However,<br />

some students were afforded fewer or more sessions,<br />

depending on their need. <strong>St</strong>udents were offered an<br />

appointment for a counselling session within 1-3 days<br />

following initial contact with the counsellor. Emergency cases<br />

were seen on the day of contact. As in previous years a<br />

number of parents, graduates, members of the academic and<br />

administrative staff, and the <strong>St</strong>udents Union contacted the<br />

student counsellor for advice, support and referral contacts.<br />

Total Number of Counselling Sessions <strong>2006</strong>-20<strong>07</strong><br />

Careers<br />

The Careers Service is responsible for providing careers<br />

guidance and information about employment and further<br />

study opportunities to students and graduates of the <strong>College</strong><br />

and for promoting the <strong>College</strong> at Careers/Higher Education<br />

Fairs. The Careers Officer collaborates with Graduate Careers<br />

Ireland and Gradireland to organise joint events; participates<br />

in the <strong>College</strong> Induction Programme for new entrants and<br />

organises and participates in the <strong>St</strong>udy Skills Programme, run<br />

in conjunction with the Counselling and Access Services.<br />

Career events organised in <strong>2006</strong>/<strong>07</strong> are outlined below. Data<br />

on the first destination of the graduates of <strong>2006</strong>, gathered on<br />

behalf of the Higher Education Authority, is included as an<br />

appendix.<br />

Careers Programme <strong>2006</strong>/<strong>07</strong><br />

• Publication of annual careers brochure<br />

• Online careers newsletter<br />

• Website and Careers Library updated<br />

• Weekly drop-in and appointments service<br />

• Weekly career workshops<br />

• Joint Graduate Careers Fair (with Gradireland, NUI<br />

Maynooth, DIT, TCD, <strong>DCU</strong>, IT Tallaght, IADT, IT<br />

Dundalk and IT Waterford)<br />

• Gradireland Joint Postgraduate <strong>St</strong>udy Fair (GCI event)<br />

• First Destination Survey.<br />

Career workshops/events <strong>2006</strong>/<strong>07</strong><br />

• Applying for Teacher Training in the UK<br />

• Career Planning & Self Assessment<br />

• Mature Graduates’ Careers Evening<br />

• A Review of postgraduate study<br />

• Careers in Library & Information <strong>St</strong>udies<br />

• Career in Marketing<br />

• Careers in Community Development<br />

• Career in Heritage Management<br />

• Careers in Human Resource Management<br />

• Psychometric Testing<br />

• CV and Interview preparation<br />

• Japanese Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET).<br />

The Careers Service actively encourages students to<br />

participate in international schemes through advertising<br />

international scholarships and employment opportunities,<br />

both paid and voluntary. In the Summer of 20<strong>07</strong>, students<br />

worked for SUAS in India, for Camara in Africa, and in the<br />

20


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

Basque region of Spain as mentors with the organisation<br />

‘Enjoy English’.<br />

Adult and Continuing Education<br />

In <strong>2006</strong>/<strong>07</strong> there were 183 undergraduate mature students<br />

registered in the <strong>College</strong> - 94 BA and 89 BEd students (4 BEds<br />

entered through the CAO in <strong>2006</strong>). A total of seventy-nine<br />

mature students (43%) were in receipt of the Higher<br />

Education Maintenance Grant: thirty nine mature BEd and<br />

forty mature BA students were in receipt of the full grant with<br />

an additional five students in receipt of a partial grant. Thirty<br />

mature students were in receipt of the Back to Education<br />

Allowance (Department of Social and Family Affairs).<br />

Seventy-two mature students graduated in <strong>2006</strong> – forty-two<br />

with a BA and thirty with a BEd, 95.8% obtained an honours<br />

degree, eight mature graduates obtained first class honours.<br />

The results for <strong>2006</strong> and data on the destination of our mature<br />

graduates of <strong>2006</strong> are provided in Appendix 4.<br />

A Mature Graduates’ Careers Evening was organised. The<br />

Mature <strong>St</strong>udent Directory of Third-level Institutions, produced<br />

by the Network of Irish Mature <strong>St</strong>udent Officers’ (NIMSO) was<br />

formally launched in January by Dr Garrett Fitzgerald in<br />

Dublin Castle. Copies of the Directory were provided to all of<br />

the Adult Guidance and VTOS/Access Centres by NIMSO.<br />

The Directory is also available in PDF format on the <strong>College</strong><br />

website.<br />

Gaeilge chun polasaí dátheangach an Choláiste a chothú go<br />

hinmheánach i measc na mac léinn agus na foirne, agus go<br />

seachtrach le baill an phobail. Tá na dualgaisí statúideacha<br />

atá ar an gColáiste de bharr Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla<br />

2003 á gcur i bhfeidhm faoi láthair.<br />

Eagraíodh na himeachtaí seo a leanas sa<br />

Choláiste i rith na bliana:<br />

• Ranganna breise Gaeilge do bhaill foirne, bunaithe ar<br />

riachtanais na bhfoghlaimeoirí féin i dtaca le húsáid na<br />

Gaeilge labhartha agus scríofa<br />

• Leathanach suímh Oifigeach na Gaeilge a eagrú agus a<br />

uasdátú<br />

• An tseirbhís téarmaíochta a fhorbairt don fhoireann<br />

teagaisc agus riaracháin<br />

• Ciorcal comhrá agus ócáidí sóisialta a eagrú don<br />

fhoireann agus do mhic léinn chun an Ghaeilge agus<br />

gné na feasachta cultúir agus teanga a chur chun tosaigh<br />

• Breis forbartha a dhéanamh ar na naisc le hOllscoil<br />

Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath, chomh maith le hinstitiúidí<br />

agus le gníomhaireachtaí eile i dtaca le cur chun cinn<br />

na Gaeilge, (e.g. bhí Oifigeach Gaeilge an Choláiste ina<br />

ball de Choiste na nOifigeach agus na <strong>St</strong>iúrthóirí<br />

Gaeilge Ollscoile).<br />

Tá bunú nuachtlitir Ghaeilge do mhic léinn á fhiosrú faoi<br />

láthair mar áis bhreise chumarsáide chomh maith.<br />

Research conducted in 2003, exploring the factors affecting<br />

mature student participation in the <strong>College</strong>, has been updated<br />

and will be published in Providing Gateways for Mature<br />

students in Higher Education in Ireland in Summer 2008.<br />

Oifigeach Gaeilge<br />

Tá an Coláiste tiomanta do chur chun cinn na Gaeilge trí<br />

ghníomhaíochtaí teagaisc agus foghlama, agus aithníonn sé<br />

an tábhacht ar leith a bhaineann leis an teanga in oiliúint<br />

múinteoirí a bheidh ag obair i mbunscoileanna na hÉireann.<br />

Is mar chuid dá pholasaí dátheangach a chuireann an Coláiste<br />

an Ghaeilge chun cinn mar mheán cumarsáide idir mic léinn<br />

agus foireann na háite. Is é Coiste na Gaeilge, grúpa<br />

ionadaíoch mac léinn agus foirne a chruinníonn le chéile uair<br />

gach dhá mhí, a dhéanann comhordú agus forbairt ar<br />

thionscnaimh Ghaeilge sa Choláiste. Bíonn dlúthchomhoibriú<br />

idir baill Choiste na Gaeilge agus Oifigeach na<br />

IT Services<br />

IT Services conducted its quality review over this period. This<br />

included surveys of staff and students, the production of a<br />

self-assessment report and a visit by a Peer Review Group.<br />

The <strong>College</strong> Website was enhanced and upgraded to provide<br />

improved access for people with visual impairment.<br />

Colour laser printing has been installed for students in a<br />

number of labs and the Resource Centre. A programme of<br />

upgrades to the network infrastructure has been implemented.<br />

This will continue into the next report period.<br />

The <strong>College</strong> has approximately 175 student PC’s in six labs<br />

and approximately 60 in other rooms. A full breakdown of the<br />

current position is provided on the <strong>College</strong> Website under<br />

‘student links’ in ‘webservices’.<br />

21


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Audio Visual Services<br />

During the year, the Audiovisual Department participated in a<br />

quality review. This involved surveying all users of the service<br />

by way of a questionnaire, the writing of a self-assessment<br />

report, and a Peer Review Group visit.<br />

Demand continues for in-house video-production with fully<br />

authored DVD’s now allowing more efficient inclusion of<br />

relevant material within lectures.<br />

During the summer of 20<strong>07</strong> audiovisual facilities in D210 and<br />

D211 were upgraded. This installation is based around the<br />

Extron control system which allows AV equipment to be<br />

integrated and controlled by a single command panel.<br />

Paul Murphy,<br />

AV Unit<br />

Freedom of Information<br />

<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> continues to embrace the spirit of the<br />

Freedom of Information (FOI) 1997 Act as amended. A<br />

significant amount of Information is routinely available and in<br />

many cases published on the <strong>College</strong> website. In the<br />

academic year <strong>2006</strong>/20<strong>07</strong>, ten requests for information were<br />

made to the <strong>College</strong>; four were granted in full and six were<br />

part-granted. One request for an Internal Review was<br />

received, this was duly conducted and part-granted. A<br />

breakdown of the requests is given in the table below. Fees<br />

Applicants <strong>St</strong>udent/former <strong>St</strong>aff Union/Interest Journalist Total<br />

student<br />

Group<br />

1 5 1 3 10<br />

Nature of Personal Non- Mixed<br />

Request<br />

personal<br />

2 4 4 10<br />

were charged at initial request in three cases and a total of<br />

€45.00 was received.<br />

Senior Tutor<br />

The Senior Tutor Service seeks to help ensure that issues<br />

affecting students are dealt with in a helpful and speedy<br />

manner and with their best interests in mind. The Senior Tutor<br />

is responsible for assisting students in their relations with the<br />

<strong>College</strong> and providing a point of contact and a source of<br />

support and information for them, both on arrival and in times<br />

of difficulty. A drop-in advisory service for all students was<br />

provided on Mon-Tues. from 10.30 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. during<br />

term time. A total of 79 students sought assistance or were<br />

referred to the Senior Tutor - 13 with potentially serious<br />

difficulties that may have resulted in dropping out, 21 with<br />

minor difficulties largely related to adjustment to college life;<br />

16 of the 79 students were referred to the Senior Tutor by staff<br />

members. 11 students were advised and assisted with the<br />

process of deferrals and appeals.<br />

An expanded Induction Programme for all First Year BA and<br />

BEd students (approximately 620 in total) which took place in<br />

the <strong>College</strong> on 21 and 25 September, included an<br />

introductory talk/welcome, small-group sessions focussing on<br />

adjusting to <strong>College</strong> life, presentations/discussion fora with<br />

current students, and tours of the campus. The event was<br />

organised by the <strong>St</strong>udent Support Services team, co-ordinated<br />

by the Senior Tutor and facilitated by members of staff and<br />

current third year students. Having been awarded a quality<br />

promotion award in January, the Senior Tutor conducted an<br />

evaluation of the Expanded Induction Programme. Feedback<br />

from the survey suggests that students found the programme<br />

extremely beneficial in helping them ‘settle in’ and easing<br />

their transition to college. Out of a total number of 138<br />

respondents surveyed, 20% rated the Induction Programme as<br />

“Excellent”, while 71% rated it as “Good” and a further 7.2%<br />

rated it as “Fair”. No respondents surveyed rated it as “Poor”.<br />

A late arrivals service was established in conjunction with the<br />

Admissions Office for students who missed induction and<br />

orientation. The advocacy for students experiencing<br />

difficulties in their teaching practice increased. In addition,<br />

the Senior Tutor liaised with internal and external supports,<br />

participated in the first year and post-graduate orientation<br />

programmes, and on the Equality Committee. The role of the<br />

Senior Tutor has expanded in the last three years due to its<br />

enhanced profile, and the growing awareness among students<br />

of the availability of such a service.<br />

22


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

throughout the year. Some of the courses and seminars<br />

attended by library staff included Copyright Legislation,<br />

“Shopping for your library: procurement and acquisitions” a<br />

one day course organised by the Acquisitions Group of<br />

Ireland, Electronic Resources Seminar organised by the Health<br />

Sciences Library Group (Library Association of Ireland),<br />

E-Merging Technologies & “Shifting Sands: Experiencing<br />

Change in the Library and Information Environment”<br />

organised by the Academic and Special Libraries section of<br />

the Library Association of Ireland.<br />

Oisín McGann<br />

Library<br />

To celebrate UNESCO World Book Day, the library, in<br />

conjunction with Eithne Kennedy and Bernadette Dwyer from<br />

the Education Department, invited children from Our Lady<br />

Immaculate Junior National School in Darndale and <strong>St</strong><br />

Joseph’s Girls National School Finglas to the <strong>College</strong> on 23<br />

and 24 April. The children from Darndale designed and<br />

produced their own books, while Oisín McGann, celebrated<br />

children’s writer, read from his work with the children from<br />

Finglas. Oisín also illustrates his own work and an illustration<br />

produced on the day was presented to each class. The library<br />

has been running this event for a number of years and as<br />

usual all the children received a gift bag which included a<br />

book.<br />

Breandán Ó Conaire made a very generous donation to the<br />

library on his retirement from Roinn na Gaeilge. The library<br />

received approx. 200 items in total, which included Irish<br />

language material, linguistics and school textbooks. The<br />

collection also included personal items such as Breandán's<br />

own copybooks - Ceachtanna Scoile and Obair Scoile - from<br />

his days as a student teacher.<br />

<strong>St</strong>atistics at a Glance<br />

Books Shelved 202,479<br />

Photocopies 386,853<br />

Inter Library Loan Requests 155<br />

Books Ordered 1241<br />

Full Text Journals Available Online 196<br />

Books Catalogued 3056<br />

Current Journals In <strong>St</strong>ock 409<br />

Items Borrowed 65,022<br />

The Reciprocal Borrowing arrangement between the libraries<br />

in <strong>DCU</strong> and <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> was extended this year to<br />

include all staff members. The final phase of the Talis Project<br />

Lyra was completed with the Library System Alto upgrade to<br />

version 4.1 and the authority cataloguing records converted to<br />

MARC21 formats. The latest version of the online catalogue<br />

(Prism 2.1) was also installed. This means that <strong>DCU</strong>, <strong>St</strong><br />

Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> and Mater Dei libraries are now fully<br />

compliant with the two bibliographic standards MARC21 and<br />

ISBN13.<br />

World Book Day in the Library<br />

A booklet outlining Irish Language Resources Online was<br />

made available in the library to coincide with the celebrations<br />

during Seachtain na Gaeilge, 20<strong>07</strong>. The booklet outlines all<br />

the electronic resources and websites available through Irish.<br />

The Professional Development of library staff continued<br />

23


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Highlights of the Year / Príomhimeachtaí na Bliana<br />

the RAI.<br />

The annual conference of the Irish Learning Support<br />

Association (Cumann Tacaíochta Foghlama na hÉireann) took<br />

place on 8-9 September. The theme was Enabling Positive<br />

Behaviour. The conference was opened by Minister of <strong>St</strong>ate<br />

for Children at the Department of Education and Science,<br />

Brian Lenihan. The keynote speaker was Jacinta Kitt.<br />

Roddy Day, John Coolahan, Pauric Travers, George<br />

Cunningham, at a reception in Belvedere House marking the<br />

45th anniversary of the Class of 1961<br />

The following were some of the main events that took place<br />

during the year:<br />

The annual conference of the Catholic Historical Society of<br />

Ireland was hosted on 16 September. Participants included<br />

Dr Michael Browne (University of Aberdeen), Dr Phil Kilroy<br />

(Trinity <strong>College</strong> Dublin), Dr James Kelly, His Eminence<br />

Cardinal Desmond Connell, Dr Nigel Aston (University of<br />

Leicester) and Dr Daire Keogh. The conference was organised<br />

by Dr Marian Lyons.<br />

The BEd class of 1981 held a 25th anniversary reunion on<br />

Saturday 23 September. Following Mass in the chapel and a<br />

reception, participants enjoyed a dinner in the <strong>College</strong> dining<br />

room. After-dinner speakers were Denis Bohane, President of<br />

the INTO, and Dr Travers, President of the <strong>College</strong>. A highlight<br />

of the evening was a reading of a specially written poem by<br />

Ned Keane of Louisburgh which was greeted by a standing<br />

ovation and not a few nostalgic tears. The songs, stories and<br />

reminiscences continued into the early hours.<br />

The 30th Annual Conference of the Reading Association of<br />

Ireland (RAI) was held in the <strong>College</strong> on 28-30 September.<br />

The theme was "Literacy at the Crossroads: Moving Forward,<br />

Looking Back" and papers addressed Literacy and<br />

Disadvantage, Comprehension, Supporting <strong>St</strong>ruggling<br />

Readers, English Language Learners, Writing, Early Literacy<br />

Development, Popular Culture and the New Literacies, and<br />

the Development of Reading Fluency. Keynote speakers were<br />

Gerry Shiel, Colin Harrison and Martin Gleeson. The<br />

Conference was organised by Bernadette Dwyer, President of<br />

Bhí oíche mhór sa Choláiste ar an 12 Deireadh Fómhair, le<br />

beatha agus saothar an scríbhneora Gaeilge Máirtín Ó<br />

Cadhain (1906-1970) a chomóradh. Chuir Máirín Nic Eoin, a<br />

d’eagraigh an comóradh, tús leis an oíche nuair a chuir sí an<br />

tOllamh Bob Welch ó Ollscoil Nua Uladh i láthair leis an<br />

léacht 'Ó Cadhain and Beckett: The Vehemence of the Dead'<br />

a thabhairt. Dúirt an tOllamh Welch gur phléigh an bheirt<br />

údar Éireannacha seo le ‘extremity’, duine acu ag díriú ar an<br />

saol in iarthar na hEorpa agus an duine eile ag díriú ar<br />

theanga, chultúr agus saol mhuintir iarthar na hÉireann. Ar<br />

leibhéil áirithe, ar seisean, labhraíonn siad le chéile: ‘they<br />

speak to each other across a chasm of language’. Labhair Alan<br />

Titley ina dhiaidh sin, nuair a nochtadh portráid nua den<br />

Chadhnach a choimisiúnaigh an Coláiste go speisialta do<br />

chomóradh céad bliain an údair. Bhí Caoimhghin Ó<br />

Croidheáin, a rinne an phortráid, i láthair chomh maith.<br />

Labhair Máirtín Ó Cadhain, nia an scríbhneora, thar cheann<br />

mhuintir Uí Chadhain. Ghlac sé buíochas le Coláiste<br />

Phádraig, alma mater an Chadhnaigh, as ucht ócáid chomh<br />

breá sin a eagrú. Bhailigh gach duine in Amharclann an<br />

Choláiste ansin le haghaidh dráma le hAisteoirí Bulfin.<br />

Fidelma Ní Ghallchobhair ó Aisteoirí Bulfin a chóirigh agus a<br />

léirigh ‘An Eochair’, leagan stáitse de ghearrscéal cailiúil den<br />

teideal céanna leis an gCadhnach. Bhí páirt J, an<br />

páipéar-choinneálaí sóisir, ag Seán Ó Cadhain, nia eile leis an<br />

scríbhneoir. Bhain gach duine sult as an oíche spreagúil seo.<br />

Léiríodh go bhfuil sprid an Chadhnaigh láidir sa Choláiste fós.<br />

The premiére of John Buckley's Work "In Winter Light" took<br />

place in the National Concert Hall on 17 November. The<br />

work is written for, and dedicated to, William Dowdall, who<br />

performed on both flute and alto flute with the<br />

accompaniment of harp, marimba, xylophone, celeste and<br />

strings.<br />

On 23 November, a lecture was delivered in the <strong>College</strong> by<br />

distinguished children’s literature specialist, Professor<br />

Rosemary R Johnston entitled ‘Of Connection and<br />

Community: Children's literature, Sameness and Difference’.<br />

Professor Johnston is Director of Teacher Education, and<br />

Director of The Centre for Research and Education in the Arts<br />

at the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.<br />

24


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

Marion Doherty-Hayden conducted the Malahide-based choir,<br />

ENCHIRIADIS TREIS, in Handel's 'Messiah' in the Helix on 2<br />

December. The bass soloist was BEd student, Gavan Ring, who<br />

made his first appearance as an oratorio singer. Gavan sang<br />

the role of Giuseppe in 'The Gondoliers' in the NCH from 19-<br />

25 November.<br />

On 5 December, the French Department hosted a lecture by<br />

Dr David Evans, University of <strong>St</strong> Andrews on 'The Sound of<br />

Silence: Music in French Poetry from Lamartine to Mallarmé'.<br />

A conference to mark the bicentenary of the abolition of the<br />

slave trade was held in the <strong>College</strong> on 9 & 10 February. It<br />

addressed the questions: Is slavery history? and How can we<br />

teach about slavery? The conference was opened by Minister<br />

of <strong>St</strong>ate, Conor Lenihan TD, and the keynote address was<br />

given by Prof Jim Walvin, University of York. Workshops and<br />

lectures on historic and contemporary issues of slavery by the<br />

Africa Centre, Amnesty International (Irish Section), Trócaire,<br />

Anti-Slavery International and by staff of <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong><br />

were included. An exhibition for schools was also developed.<br />

The conference and exhibition were part funded by Irish Aid.<br />

On 27 February, Jackie Marsh, Reader in Education at<br />

Sheffield University, presented a workshop on qualitative<br />

research methods to members of staff and postgraduate<br />

students of the <strong>College</strong>.<br />

A very successful Seimineáir Taighde series was organised by<br />

Roinn na Gaeilge. Among the topics and speakers were:<br />

‘Cumas Gaeilge na nDaltaí i Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge’<br />

(Pádraig Ó Duibhir); ‘An Saol Sí i nDúchas na hÉireann’<br />

(Dáithí Ó hÓgain); ‘Eriugena: fealsamh as Éirinn i Laon na<br />

Fraince 850-870’ (Eoghan Mac Aogáin); ‘An Ghaeilge agus an<br />

Eoraip Inniu’ (Pádraig Ó Laighin); ‘Saothar Phádraig Uí<br />

Chíobháin’ (Sorcha de Brún); ‘Inscne Ghramadúil i dTéacs<br />

Ultach ón 18ú hAois’ (Ciarán Mac Murchaidh); ‘Gael Linn<br />

agus Amharc Éireann 1956-1964’ (Póilín Ní Chathail); ‘Ról na<br />

Teanga i Saol Gaeilgeoirí’ (Eimear Ní Chaomhánaigh);<br />

‘Teoiricí Jung agus Úrscéalta Phádraig Uí Mhaoileoin’ (Oisín<br />

Uíbh Eachach); ‘An Léargas Sóisialta, Cultúrtha agus <strong>St</strong>airiúil i<br />

nDírbheathaisnéisí Thír Chonaill’ (Michelle Ní Chearbhaill);<br />

‘An tAos Sí: léargas ar mheon an duine thraidisiúnta’<br />

(Caitríona Ní Mhurchú); ‘An Ghaeilge agus an Bhreatnais:<br />

TG4 agus S4C’ (Eibhlín Nic Eachaidh).<br />

Daire Keogh, Fionnuala Waldron, Professor James Walvin and<br />

Minister Conor Lenihan at the Slavery Conference in February<br />

On 8 February, as part of the PE Pays series, Dr Thom<br />

McKenzie gave a lecture in the <strong>College</strong> entitled 'Seeing is<br />

believing : Assessing Physical Activity Interventions in Home,<br />

School and Community settings’ at which the <strong>College</strong><br />

launched its In Service Certificate and Diploma in Physical<br />

Education.<br />

On 12 March, Amy O’Leary and Professor Penny<br />

Hauser-Cram from Boston <strong>College</strong> gave a seminar on early<br />

years education. Ms O’Leary spoke about her work as<br />

Deputy Director for Operations for <strong>St</strong>rategies for Children –<br />

including advocacy – and in particular the Early Educationfor-all<br />

campaign to make early education available to all<br />

young children in Massachusetts. Professor Hauser-Cram,<br />

who is Professor of Developmental and Educational<br />

Psychology, Lynch School, Boston <strong>College</strong>, spoke on her<br />

research on early intervention for children with special needs.<br />

<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> was part of a Boston <strong>College</strong> Early Years<br />

Education Programme in <strong>2006</strong>.<br />

A commemorative “John McGahern Irish Writing Lecture”<br />

took place in the <strong>College</strong> on 10 May. Dr Derek Hand of the<br />

On 14 February, the distinguished traditional singer Máiréad<br />

Ní Fhlatharta led an evening of singing in the Seomra<br />

Caidrimh. Bhí amhránaithe eile i dteannta Mháiréad, gan<br />

amhras. Amhránaithe ón gColáiste a bhí ann: Antaine Ó<br />

Faracháin, Eibhlín Uí Bhriain, Cian Kearns agus Máire Ní<br />

Bhaoill. Teagascóirí le Roinn na Gaeilge is ea Antaine agus<br />

Eibhlín beirt, agus ainm orthu araon mar amhránaithe<br />

cruthanta. Mac léinn de chuid Choláiste Phádraig is ea Cian.<br />

Agus amhránaí agus ceoltóir is ea Máire, í ag obair i Rannóg<br />

Theagasc na Gaeilge i Roinn Oideachas an Choláiste.<br />

Writer Joseph O’Connor with Derek Hand on the occasion<br />

of the first John McGahern memorial lecture<br />

25


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

English Department gave a talk “Saying Goodbye to John: or<br />

Thank you for the Day” celebrating McGahern’s work as<br />

affirming the importance of community and the potency of<br />

shared human experience and shared goals. Novelist Joseph<br />

O’Connor delivered his own tribute to McGahern and then<br />

read from his latest best selling novel Redemption Falls.<br />

Robert Fisk, the<br />

renowned Middle East<br />

correspondent of the<br />

Independent (UK)<br />

newspaper, delivered<br />

the keynote public<br />

lecture at the<br />

Conference of Irish<br />

Geographers which<br />

was held in the<br />

<strong>College</strong> from 11-13<br />

May. Fisk, the author<br />

of the sweeping<br />

Robert Fisk<br />

analysis of Middle<br />

East history – The<br />

Great War For Civilisation – spoke on the theme: ‘Collapse in<br />

Iraq: The Way Out’.<br />

every year – but one: 1956. <strong>St</strong> Vincent’s fielded at least<br />

three-quarters of the Dublin team at the time (All-Ireland<br />

finalists 1955) while the Erin’s Hope team was virtually an<br />

U-21 lineout. The team was Terry McQuinn (Kerry), Mick<br />

O’Donoghue (Kerry), Brendan Keane RIP (Mayo), John Joe<br />

Breslin (Roscommon), Tadhg O Siocrú (Kerry), Martin Queally<br />

(Clare), Pat Conefrey (Leitrim), Fintan Walsh, Capt. (Laois),<br />

Tom Long (Kerry), Dermot O’Donovan (Cork), Mattie<br />

McDonagh RIP (Galway), Micheal O Briain (Cork), Tomás<br />

McKenna (Kerry), Donal Hurley (Cork), Bertie Towey RIP<br />

(Mayo). Subs were: Piaras Ferriter (Donegal), Jimmy Casey<br />

(Longford), Gerry Twomey (Meath), John Browne (Clare),<br />

Tadhg Garvey (Kerry), Dave McSweeney (Cork), Paddy<br />

O’Toole (Mayo).<br />

The Irish Association of Teachers in Special Education held its<br />

19th Annual International Conference on Special Education in<br />

the <strong>College</strong> from 7-9 May. This year's theme was "Focus on<br />

the <strong>St</strong>udent - in the Midst of Policy and Paper". The<br />

Conference was opened by Emily Logan, Ombudsman for<br />

Children. The keynote address was delivered by Roy<br />

McConkey, Professor of Learning Disability, University of<br />

Ulster.<br />

The fifth edition of the Education For All (EFA) Global<br />

Monitoring Report, <strong>St</strong>rong Foundations: Early Childhood Care<br />

and Education, was launched at a seminar held in the <strong>College</strong><br />

on 31 May 20<strong>07</strong>. The seminar was co-hosted by the <strong>College</strong>,<br />

the Centre for Early Childhood Development and Education<br />

and Irish Aid. Yusef Sayed, senior policy analyst from the<br />

EFA/Global Monitoring Team at UNESCO Paris gave an<br />

overview of the main findings. Heino Schonfeld, Director of<br />

the CECDE, benchmarked progress in Ireland in relation to<br />

early childhood care and education, against the situation<br />

elsewhere.<br />

Erin’s Hope 50th anniversary reunion<br />

On 21 April, the Class of '57 held their 50th Anniversary<br />

reunion in the INTO Teachers' Club. The night was organised<br />

by John Joe Vaughan, with some help from Eoghan Ó<br />

Súilleabháin (graduate of the class and retired member of staff<br />

from <strong>St</strong> <strong>Patrick's</strong> <strong>College</strong>).<br />

A group of some 35 people assembled during the year at the<br />

Castlerosse Hotel in Killarney to celebrate a notable 50th<br />

anniversary – the victory of Erin’s Hope in the Dublin Senior<br />

Football Championship of 1956. The victory was a<br />

particularly memorable one because of its circumstances.<br />

Over a fourteen-year period (1949-1962) opponents, <strong>St</strong><br />

Vincent’s, created an incredible record by winning the title<br />

Class of ‘57 reunion<br />

26


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> – A History<br />

Pauric Travers, Denis Bohane (INTO President), An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and Jimmy Kelly,<br />

editor of <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>: A History<br />

James Kelly (ed.), <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra. A History (Four Courts, <strong>2006</strong>) was launched by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD,<br />

before a large audience in the <strong>College</strong> dining room in November <strong>2006</strong>. Commending the <strong>College</strong> for its service to the nation and<br />

its commitment to excellence in teaching and research, the Taoiseach welcomed the book as contributing not only to an<br />

understanding of the history of the <strong>College</strong>, but also of the whole Drumcondra area and of Irish education. As one of the oldest<br />

third-level institutions in Ireland, the history of <strong>St</strong> <strong>Patrick's</strong> <strong>College</strong> was, Mr Ahern said, ‘tightly linked with the history of education<br />

itself in this country’.<br />

He added that the contribution made by the <strong>College</strong> to the development of Special Education has been a<br />

really significant one. In each era of its history, ‘the one constant thread that has run through its history has been its faithful<br />

endeavour to serve the nation as an educational institution. And from its earliest days, the <strong>College</strong> played a key role in setting high<br />

standards and progressing the cause of education in this land.’<br />

The Taoiseach acknowledged the contribution of the Vincentian<br />

community to the <strong>College</strong> and all those who had helped in its<br />

‘transformation from a traditional teacher training <strong>College</strong> to<br />

the forward-looking institution that it is today’. Edited by James<br />

Kelly of the History Department, the other contributors to this<br />

new <strong>College</strong> history are: Joseph Doyle, Diarmaid Ferriter, Carla<br />

King, James Kelly, Ruth MacManus, Eoghan Ó Súilleabháin,<br />

Ciaran Sugrue and John Walsh.<br />

The full text of the Taoiseach’s remarks is included in<br />

Appendix 6.<br />

<strong>St</strong>udents providing entertainment at the <strong>College</strong> History<br />

launch<br />

27


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

<strong>St</strong>udent Life / Saol na Mac Léinn<br />

It would be difficult to fit into one report all of the diverse<br />

activities of the students in a range of areas including music,<br />

sport and drama. Below is a small selection of those<br />

activities:<br />

Darren O'Neill, BA student who boxes for Paulstown BC in<br />

Kilkenny, reached the last eight in the European Boxing<br />

Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, in July. Darren won gold<br />

in the Grand Prix of Ostrava - the Czech Republic Boxing<br />

Championships.<br />

<strong>St</strong>ring, with a song entitled ‘If I get there’. Runner-up was<br />

Grainne Carroll, and Best Entertainment was given to The<br />

Intervals (Chris O Sullivan and Aideen Hand). Joe O Reilly<br />

and Colm Sheehan acted as MCs. The interval acts on the<br />

night included the Trad Society, Louise Casey who featured on<br />

RTE’s You’re A <strong>St</strong>ar, Anthony McFeely, Colm Costello and<br />

Gavin Wynne.<br />

On 12 December, the Annual Carol Service was held in the<br />

<strong>College</strong> Chapel. The <strong>College</strong> Choir conducted by Marion<br />

Doherty was joined by the Folk Group, the Traditional Music<br />

Group, Viva Voce conducted by Yvonne Higgins, and this<br />

year, for the first time, a Liturgical Dance Group. The<br />

reflection was provided by Anne O’Farrell.<br />

Eoin Mulvany BMus, a second year Research MA student in<br />

the Music Department has won the prestigious ‘Jerome Hynes<br />

Composers Competition <strong>2006</strong>’. Eoin’s winning composition<br />

‘PX2’ for flute and piano was premiered in the National<br />

Concert Hall on 7 February as part of the ‘Rising <strong>St</strong>ar’ recital<br />

series. The “Jerome Hynes Composers Competition” offers<br />

young Irish composers the opportunity to have their works<br />

assessed in a competition, with the winning student being<br />

offered a performance of their work as well as a substantial<br />

cash prize.<br />

Boxing champion Darren O’Neill<br />

A series of lunchtime concerts commenced in the <strong>College</strong> on<br />

8 November. There were five concerts in Semester 1, and a<br />

further seven in the second semester. Concerts this year<br />

included an exciting line up of <strong>College</strong> students and invited<br />

guests. <strong>St</strong>udents provided a vibrant mix of classical, popular<br />

and traditional music. A highlight was the concert entitled<br />

'The Three Baritones', (Gavan Ring, Brian Gilligan and Cian<br />

Kearins). The group later played to the President of Ireland in<br />

Áras an Uachtaráin.<br />

Bhí ceol binn suaimhneach na suantraí Gaeilge á ghabháil ag<br />

mic léinn agus baill foirne le clos am loín nuair a thug an<br />

t-amhránaí clúiteach, Róisín Elsafty, cuairt ar an Choláiste le<br />

ceardlann amhránaíochta a thabhairt. De bhunadh<br />

Chonamara í Róisín agus tá traidisiún an cheoil agus na<br />

hamhránaíochta ag baint go láidir lena muintir. Ba óna<br />

máthair Treasa Ní Cheannabháin a thug sí bua na<br />

hamhránaíochta, a deir sí, agus is amhránaí mór le rá í Treasa<br />

ina cáilíocht féin. Is as an Éigipt d’athair Róisín, agus tá lorg<br />

ceol na hÉigipte le brath go láidir ar ábhar chuid de na<br />

hamhráin atá cumtha ag a máthair (An Phalaitín, mar<br />

shampla), agus is minic Róisín á thabhairt stíl an dá traidisiúin<br />

le chéile ina chuid amhránaíochta. Tá an-taithí go deo ag<br />

Róisín ar mhúineadh na hamhránaíochta, agus d’éirigh léi na<br />

hamhráin go léir a mhúineadh don lucht éisteachta, agus<br />

ornáidí na n-amhrán a thabhairt chun solais go paiteanta.<br />

As part of their main fund-raising campaign this year, more<br />

than €10,000 has been raised by the <strong>St</strong>udents Union for the<br />

Adekyee (“New Dawn”) Schools Project in Ghana. The money<br />

has been donated to the severely disadvantaged community<br />

of Jasikan, Ghana, through Gabriel Mante, the local bishop.<br />

Pictured with President and Mr McAleese are The Baritones –<br />

Gavan Ring, Brian Gilligan and Cian Kearins. They were<br />

accompanied on their visit to the Áras by Dr Marion<br />

Doherty-Hayden.<br />

The first production of the new <strong>College</strong> repertory company<br />

(SPARC) opened on 20 November. Sean Corcoran’s<br />

production of Arthur Miller's classic depiction of mass<br />

hysteria, 'The Crucible' drew largely on the graduates of the<br />

MA in Theatre <strong>St</strong>udies, established in 1999. The Chair of<br />

SPARC is Dr Pat Burke, Director of the Theatre <strong>St</strong>udies MA.<br />

The Annual <strong>St</strong> <strong>Patrick's</strong> <strong>College</strong> Song Contest took place in the<br />

<strong>College</strong> auditorium on 6 December. The songs performed on<br />

the night were written and performed by the students<br />

themselves. The winner was Brian Gilligan and his band Six<br />

Carmal Dinan accompanies students on trip to Ghana to<br />

present cheque raised in <strong>College</strong> to Bishop Mante<br />

28


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

The money which was raised mainly through a ‘sponsor a<br />

brick’ campaign will provide new classroom<br />

accommodation in local schools. Dr Carmel Dinan of the<br />

Education Department, Pauric Bolton, Welfare Officer and<br />

Sine Friel, of the <strong>St</strong>udents’ Union visited Ghana as part of the<br />

project. Jasikan, located in the northern part of the Volta<br />

Region, is one of the poorest parts of Ghana.The Catholic<br />

Diocese of Jasikan has embarked on the “New Dawn”<br />

project to provide five new ‘model’ schools to cater for the<br />

educational needs of its children.<br />

In second semester, Paula Meehan was <strong>DCU</strong>/<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s<br />

<strong>College</strong> poet in residence, sponsored by Poetry Ireland. On 7<br />

March, staff and students who participated in her workshops<br />

over a six week period attended a performance in the <strong>College</strong><br />

to mark the end of the series. The performance included<br />

readings and the launch of a collection of poems entitled<br />

‘Poetry and Pastries’ which were inspired by the workshops.<br />

Two of Meehan’s own poems on eulogies to children which<br />

were translated into Irish by Dr Máirín Nic Eoin of Roinn na<br />

Gaeilge, were presented to the poet.<br />

<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> Women's Volleyball Team reached the All<br />

Ireland <strong>College</strong>'s Volleyball Final after an impressive display<br />

in <strong>DCU</strong>, which is a first for the <strong>College</strong>. After finishing in 2nd<br />

place on the day in the Qualifying group, <strong>St</strong> Pats beat a strong<br />

Carlow IT team in the Semi Final. This achievement is all the<br />

more creditable given that just two of the team had played<br />

volleyball before this season.<br />

Two PhD fellowships have been awarded to <strong>College</strong> students<br />

under the latest IRCHSS funding round: Ann Marie Byrne<br />

(Human Development) and Chris Lawlor (History). A further<br />

successful doctoral student registered at NUIM is supervised<br />

here as part of the developing Foras Feasa relationship.<br />

Best Sporting Male (Fresher): Richie Hogan; Best Sporting<br />

Female (Fresher): Feena Byrne; Club Event of the Year:<br />

O’Connor Cup; Society Event of the Year: Drama Soc One<br />

Acts; Appreciation Award: Paul Knox; Lecturer of the Year:<br />

Jones Irwin; Club Organiser of the Year: Matthew Campbell;<br />

Society Organiser of the Year: Sinead McCauley; Outstanding<br />

Achievement Award: Joanne English/<strong>St</strong>ephen Carolan.<br />

Presentations were also made to the Scór All Ireland trad<br />

music group and the All Ireland winning ladies and men GAA<br />

football teams. The event was organised by Clubs and<br />

Societies Officer, Ciara Gallagher.<br />

Several <strong>College</strong> students undertook voluntary work abroad<br />

during their Summer break. Carla Arthurs, Joe Finn and<br />

Aisling Brennan (2nd year BA students) worked on the<br />

“Camara” project in Lesotho, while 2nd year BEds Ann Marie<br />

Connolly, Eoin Callaghan and Paul Gallagher, with Roisín<br />

Cuddihy (1st year postgrad), worked on the “Realt” teaching<br />

project in Uganda, in association with Marino Institute of<br />

Education and CICE.<br />

There was a regular programme of activities for the GAA<br />

teams representing Coláiste Phádraig, with twelve teams<br />

participating in seventy Comhairle Ard-oideachais fixtures.<br />

Worthy of special mention is the All-Ireland Trench cup<br />

victory in Belfast at which David Henry (3rd year BEd/Dublin)<br />

won player of the tournament, and the All-Ireland Senior Scór<br />

win in three categories in Killarney. Shauna McGarrigle<br />

captured the Amhránaíocht Aonair category, while the Ceol<br />

Uirlise category was won by the <strong>College</strong> Trad group of Nadia<br />

Markey, Cian Kearins, Janine Redmond, Michael Harrison,<br />

and Seán Óg Farrell. A recording of the Scór finals was shown<br />

on RTE television on 1st and 8th June.<br />

At the annual Clubs and Societies award presentations,<br />

students from a wide variety of student societies were<br />

presented with awards for their outstanding achievements<br />

throughout the year. The guest of honour was Micheál Ó<br />

Muircheartaigh, himself a past student of the <strong>College</strong>, who<br />

spoke of the changes in the <strong>College</strong> since his days here.<br />

Some of the members of the Scór winning traditional group met<br />

Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh at the Clubs and Societies Awards<br />

Awards presented included: Best Club: Mens GAA; Best<br />

Society: Scór/Trad Soc; Most Improved Club: Volleyball Club;<br />

Most Improved Society: Hip Hop Soc; Best New Club: Surf<br />

Club; Best New Society: Open Mic Society; Best Sporting<br />

Male: Declan Lafferty; Best Sporting Female: Bernice Byrne;<br />

Hurling in Fitzgibbon for only the second season, the <strong>College</strong><br />

senior hurlers marked their presence with commendable<br />

league and championship displays – missing a place in the<br />

coveted Fitzgibbon weekend in Carlow by just a single point<br />

to a fine DIT side. The Ladies, runners-up in the senior<br />

national league, enjoyed their participation in the O’Connor<br />

Cup Football weekend and returned with the O’Connor<br />

Shield. The Fresher Hurlers and Footballers took the<br />

silverware in the Leinster Championship.<br />

The <strong>College</strong> tradition of providing opportunities for all<br />

students to gain confidence and add to self-esteem is<br />

encouraged and given ample expression in <strong>College</strong> GAA<br />

Clubs with commendable success. Táimid an-bhuíoch de<br />

ghach éinne, idir lucht leanúna agus imreoirí, a thóg moladh<br />

an phobail ar an gColáiste agus gabhaimid buíochas do<br />

chuile dhuine toisc a ndea-iompar i rith na bliana.<br />

29


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

International Links / Naisc Idirnáisiúnta<br />

International Evening organised for and by the students<br />

themselves. The Irish Department ran a course on Irish<br />

<strong>St</strong>udies, and Gerry O’Reilly conducted a tour of heritage sites<br />

in the Boyne Valley in each semester.<br />

In <strong>2006</strong>-<strong>07</strong> the <strong>College</strong> applied for and was granted an EU<br />

Erasmus <strong>St</strong>andard University Charter, 20<strong>07</strong>-2013. This Charter<br />

provides the general framework for all European co-operation<br />

activities within the Lifelong Learning Erasmus Programme.<br />

Mic léinn Erasmus<br />

In <strong>2006</strong>-<strong>07</strong> the <strong>College</strong> received Erasmus (EU) funding<br />

totalling €16,000 for student grants and €1,000 for<br />

Organisation of Mobility for <strong>St</strong>udents and Teachers. Ten<br />

students received Erasmus grants to study abroad in Semester<br />

II. They studied in universities in Aberdeen (1), Finland (1),<br />

Lithuania (2), and the Czech Republic (1) and in a French<br />

<strong>College</strong> of Education in Versailles (5).<br />

B.Oid. Idirnáisiúnta<br />

Seven students on the four-year BEd (International) spent the<br />

year in France taking courses at the universities of Nancy2 (4),<br />

Bourgogne (2), and Limoges (1). They also worked as<br />

part-time Teaching Assistants in nearby primary schools under<br />

a Franco-Irish Exchange programme. Two further students on<br />

the international degree programmes – one a BEd<br />

(International) and the other a BA (International) - spent the<br />

year at the Université de Toulouse, and the Université<br />

d’Angers respectively.<br />

Mic léinn Erasmus a tháinig anseo<br />

The <strong>College</strong> acted as host to 30 Erasmus students, 16 in<br />

Semester I (including 2 whole-year students) and 14 in<br />

Semester II. The students came from France (8), Belgium (6),<br />

The Czech Republic (3), Finland (2), Hungary (2), Poland (2),<br />

Scotland (2), Spain (2), Austria (1), Bulgaria (1), and Lithuania<br />

(1).<br />

US/Mic léinn CPD i Meiriceá<br />

Nine students went on 1-semester study-visits to the<br />

University of Northern Colorado (6) and Merrimack <strong>College</strong>,<br />

Boston (3). Twelve American students, from the University of<br />

Northern Colorado (9), the University of CHICO (2), and<br />

Merrimack <strong>College</strong> (1) spent a semester in SPD.<br />

Comenius, Lingua, Erasmus Mundus<br />

Collaborative work with colleagues abroad in various projects<br />

continued. A Comenius ‘Science Teaching and Learning’<br />

project, aimed at improving the delivery of science education<br />

modules in institutes of education in the EU, and at promoting<br />

science education at primary and secondary level, was started<br />

in October <strong>2006</strong>. This project, which will run from<br />

<strong>2006</strong>-2009, was undertaken in partnership with the Catholic<br />

University of Angers in France , the University of Ljubljana in<br />

Slovenia, the University of Western Bohemia in the Czech<br />

Republic, and the University of Cyprus, with Hugh Gash and<br />

Tom McCloughlin representing the <strong>College</strong>. The <strong>College</strong> also<br />

joined with the Universities of Zaragoza and Braganca in<br />

working on an Erasmus Mundus Master’s degree,<br />

‘Educational, Social and Work Inclusion of People with<br />

Disabilities’. This programme was granted funding in the<br />

summer of 20<strong>07</strong> and is intended to run for three years. The<br />

<strong>College</strong> was also a partner institution in the Euro Languages<br />

Net Plus project (<strong>2006</strong>-<strong>07</strong>), centred at the Public Service<br />

Language Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania. This project was<br />

established to promote linguistic diversity and to create an<br />

Internet resource for the general public focussed on less<br />

widely used European languages. Éanna MacCaba from Roinn<br />

na Gaeilge was the <strong>College</strong> participant.<br />

Clár ACE/The Ace Programme<br />

The partnership between SPD and the University of Notre<br />

Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE), which was<br />

established in 2001, continues. This year one SPD student,<br />

Anna Jacobs (BEd 2005) joined the programme in June 20<strong>07</strong>.<br />

Dr Daire Keogh is the <strong>College</strong> coordinator for this<br />

programme.<br />

Cuairteanna Teagaisc Erasmus<br />

The <strong>College</strong> received €4,800 for Erasmus teaching<br />

assignments in partner colleges. The following staff<br />

participated: Mary Shine Thompson (Versailles), Gerry<br />

O’Reilly (Kecskemét), Pádraig de Paor (Université Rennes 2),<br />

Uáitéar Mac Gearailt (Universidad Complutense de Madrid),<br />

Ann Louise Gilligan (University of Warsaw), Hugh Gash<br />

(Universidad Católica de Valencia).<br />

Aoi-Léachtóirí Erasmus a tháinig<br />

The following colleagues visited the <strong>College</strong> on Erasmus<br />

teaching assignments: Dr Elzbieta Putkievicz and Dr<br />

Malgorzata ytko (University of Warsaw), Dominique Truffle<br />

(IUFM de l’Académie de Versailles), Dr Tuula Asunta<br />

(University of Jyväskylä), and Professor Regina Rudaityt,<br />

(University of Vilnius).<br />

Cuireadh fáilte rompu<br />

A number of activities were organised for visiting students in<br />

Semesters I and II, including the President’s Reception and the<br />

30


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

<strong>St</strong>aff Publications / Foilseacháin na Foirne<br />

In June, the eleventh annual Research Report was presented to<br />

Academic Council by Dr Mary Shine Thompson, Co-ordinator<br />

of Research. This includes a detailed record of research<br />

completed and/or published by staff during the year. The<br />

following are some of the publications included:<br />

Discovering Drama: Theory<br />

and Practice for the Primary<br />

School by Paula Murphy and<br />

Margaret O’Keefe (Gill and<br />

Macmillan, <strong>2006</strong>) - launched in<br />

the <strong>College</strong> in September by<br />

Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for<br />

Education and Science.<br />

Thomas Kellaghan and Páid<br />

McGee, Your Education<br />

System: A Report on the<br />

Response to the Invitation to<br />

Participate in Creating a Shared<br />

Vision for Irish Education into the Future (ERC, <strong>2006</strong>)<br />

Gerry Shiel, Paul Surgenor, Sean Close and David Millar, The<br />

2004 National Assessment of Mathematics Achievement (ERC,<br />

<strong>2006</strong>)<br />

Counting on Success:<br />

Mathematics Achievement in<br />

Irish Primary Schools (DES,<br />

<strong>2006</strong>) – launched in October<br />

by Mary Hanafin TD,<br />

Minister for Education and<br />

Science.<br />

Millar, D., Kellaghan, T., &<br />

Mac Aogáin, E. (<strong>2006</strong>). A<br />

study of the intended and<br />

achieved weights of<br />

components in the Leaving<br />

Certificate Examination.<br />

Dublin: Educational Research Centre.<br />

Irish Educational <strong>St</strong>udies, Vol. 25, nos 1,2,3 (March, June,<br />

September <strong>2006</strong>). General editor, Ciaran Sugrue; Review<br />

Editor, Marie Flynn.<br />

Irish Journal of Education, Vol. 36 (2005) & Vol. 37 (<strong>2006</strong>).<br />

Edited by Dr Kellaghan. Vol. 36 contains articles on various<br />

aspects of PISA by Gerry Shiel, Nick Sofroniou, Judith<br />

Cosgrove, Elizabeth Oldham, Sean Close, Eemer Eivers and<br />

Declan Kennedy. Volume 37 contains articles on the points<br />

system by Eoghan MacAogáin; ICT in primary schools by<br />

Judith Cosgrove, Sarah Zastrutzki and Gerry Shiel; selection of<br />

schools for support with educational disadvantage by Susan<br />

Weir and Peter Archer; and opinions of the Irish public on the<br />

goals of primary education by Thomas Kellaghan and Michael<br />

Daly.<br />

Maureen Killeavy, Regina Murphy et al., National Pilot Project<br />

on Teacher Induction. Report on Phase 1 & 2, 2002-4 (DES,<br />

<strong>2006</strong>)<br />

James Kelly (ed.), <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s<br />

<strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra. A<br />

History (Four Courts, <strong>2006</strong>)<br />

launched in November by An<br />

Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern TD.<br />

Further information is published<br />

in “Highlights of the Year”.<br />

Thomas O’Connor and Mary<br />

Ann Lyons (editors), Irish<br />

Communities in Early Modern<br />

Europe (Four Courts, <strong>2006</strong>) and<br />

Irish Migrants in Europe after<br />

Kinsale, 1602-1820 (Four<br />

Courts, <strong>2006</strong>); Thomas O’Connor (ed.), The Irish in Europe,<br />

1580-1815 (Four Courts, <strong>2006</strong>) - launched by Dr Travers at<br />

the Royal Irish Academy in 29 November. Also launched was<br />

the ‘Irish Regiments in France’ database which is a product of<br />

a strategic collaboration between NUIM, TCD and the<br />

<strong>College</strong>.<br />

P. Downes, C. Maunsell &<br />

J. Ivers (<strong>2006</strong>). A holistic<br />

approach to early school<br />

leaving and school retention<br />

in Blanchardstown: Current<br />

issues and future steps for<br />

services and schools.<br />

Foreword by Senator Joe<br />

O’Toole. Commissioned<br />

Research Report for<br />

Blanchardstown Area<br />

Partnership, Dublin -<br />

launched in December in<br />

Blanchardstown<br />

Paul Downes, Quality Development of Out of School<br />

Services: An Agenda for Development (QDOSS, <strong>2006</strong>)<br />

Paul Downes & Catherine Maunsell Count Us In: Tackling<br />

Early School Leaving in South West Inner City Dublin: An<br />

Integrated Response (Commissioned Research Report for<br />

South Inner City Community Development Association).<br />

(Dublin, 20<strong>07</strong>) - launched in June at a seminar in the<br />

Guinness <strong>St</strong>orehouse.<br />

31


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Ciarán Ó Coigligh & Eoin Mac Lochalinn Aiséirí Requiem (Cló<br />

Chaisil, <strong>2006</strong>) - Sraith de 24 dhán a chum Ciarán le gabháil<br />

in éineacht le sraith de 24 phíosa ealaíne le Eoin Mac<br />

Lochalinn. Launched in December at Kilmainham Gaol.<br />

Anne Hession & Patricia Kieran<br />

(eds) Exploring Theology:<br />

Making Sense of the Catholic<br />

Tradition (Veritas, 20<strong>07</strong>)<br />

launched at All hallows in May<br />

by Most Revd Dr Diarmaid<br />

Martin, Archbishop of Dublin.<br />

The collection provides an<br />

overview and introduction to<br />

the subject for students and non<br />

specialists. Its twenty chapters<br />

include five by <strong>College</strong> staff:<br />

Carol Barry, Niamh<br />

Middleton, Facthna McCarthy,<br />

Ray Topley and Anne Hession.<br />

Michael O’Leary, Towards a Balanced Assessment System for<br />

Irish Secondary and Primary Schools, Oideas, 52<br />

(Geimhreadh, <strong>2006</strong>)<br />

Mary Burke, Pride in our Place, 2002-<strong>2006</strong>: Final Report<br />

(CCBS, Armagh, 20<strong>07</strong>) – report and evaluation of cross border<br />

schools’ project.<br />

Paula Mayock (TCD), Karl Kitching and Mark Morgan, Report<br />

on the Implementation of RSE (Crisis Pregnancy Agency/DES,<br />

20<strong>07</strong>) - launched by the Minister for Education and Science in<br />

March. This report examines the RSE programme in the<br />

context of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and<br />

assesses the challenges to its full implementation in<br />

post-primary schools.<br />

Eivers, E., Shiel, G., & Cheevers, C. (<strong>2006</strong>). Implementing the<br />

Revised Junior Certificate Science Syllabus. What teachers<br />

said. Dublin: <strong>St</strong>ationery Office.<br />

Eivers, E., Shiel, G., & Cunningham, R.(20<strong>07</strong>). Ready for<br />

tomorrow’s world? The competencies of Irish 15-year-olds in<br />

PISA <strong>2006</strong>. Dublin: <strong>St</strong>ationery Office.<br />

Lewis, M., & Archer, P. (<strong>2006</strong>). Home-School-Community-<br />

Liaison in Early <strong>St</strong>art schools. Report to the Department of<br />

Education and Science. Dublin: Educational Research Centre.<br />

Mac Aogáin, E. (20<strong>07</strong>). Analysis of school attendance data in<br />

primary and post-primary schools, 2003/4 to 2005/6. Report<br />

to the National Educational Welfare Board. Dublin:<br />

Educational Research Centre.<br />

Shiel, G., & O’Flaherty, A. (<strong>2006</strong>). NCTE 2005 Census on ICT<br />

infrastructure in schools. <strong>St</strong>atistical report. Report prepared for<br />

the National Centre for Technology in Education. Dublin:<br />

Educational Research Centre.<br />

Shiel, G., Perkins, R., Close, S., & Oldham, E. (20<strong>07</strong>). PISA<br />

mathematics: A teacher’s guide. Dublin: Department of<br />

Education and Science.<br />

Surgenor, P., Oldham, E., Close, S., Shiel, G., Dooley, T., &<br />

O’Leary, M. (20<strong>07</strong>). Pressing the right buttons. Calculator use<br />

in schools and in Junior Cycle Mathematics. Dublin: <strong>St</strong><br />

Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Trinity <strong>College</strong>, Educational Research<br />

Centre.<br />

Mary Shine Thompson and<br />

Valerie Coghlan (eds): Divided<br />

Worlds: <strong>St</strong>udies in Children’s<br />

Literature (Four Courts, Dublin<br />

20<strong>07</strong>) – this third publication of<br />

the Irish Society for the <strong>St</strong>udy of<br />

Children’s Literature contains<br />

inter alia articles by five<br />

members of staff and several<br />

graduates of the <strong>College</strong>.<br />

Eureka is a weekly primary<br />

science supplement which is<br />

published by the Irish<br />

Independent and written and<br />

researched by Paula Kilfeather,<br />

Cliona Murphy and Janet Varley. Each week Eureka focuses on<br />

one everyday topic and helps pupils to understand the<br />

relevant science through activities, articles, puzzles and<br />

quizzes. Forty four issues have been published since<br />

September 2005. Eureka is distributed throughout the country<br />

and currently has 20,000 readers. The magazine is published<br />

in both English and Irish.<br />

Dwyer, B., & Shiel, G. (Eds.). (20<strong>07</strong>). Literacy at the<br />

crossroads: Moving forward, looking back. Dublin: Reading<br />

Association of Ireland.<br />

32


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

Financial Report /<br />

Tuarascáil Airgeadais<br />

INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT<br />

Year Ended 30 September 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Income <strong>2006</strong>* 20<strong>07</strong>**<br />

€<br />

<strong>St</strong>ate Grants<br />

<strong>St</strong>udent Fees<br />

Research income<br />

Higher Education Authority<br />

Other<br />

Other income<br />

11,401,546<br />

8,713,296<br />

1,392,272<br />

351,247<br />

2,527,326<br />

12,067,831<br />

9,373,447<br />

1,312,400<br />

1,<strong>07</strong>2,231<br />

2,915,245<br />

Total Income<br />

24,385,687<br />

26,741,154<br />

Expenditure<br />

Operating expenditure<br />

Research grants and contracts<br />

Funded by HEA<br />

Project Funded<br />

Total<br />

22,210,664<br />

1,564,369<br />

264,382<br />

24,039,415<br />

24,459,388<br />

1,629,411<br />

388,845<br />

26,477,644<br />

Surplus for the Year<br />

829,305<br />

(464,034)<br />

Accumulated surplus on income and expenditure account<br />

<strong>2006</strong> 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Opening accumulated surplus<br />

Surplus for Year<br />

At 30 September<br />

950,772<br />

829,305<br />

1,780,<strong>07</strong>7<br />

1,780,<strong>07</strong>7<br />

(464,034)<br />

1,316,043<br />

* Amended as per final audit<br />

** Subject to audit<br />

33


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> in the Past /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig in Anallód<br />

James Sadler<br />

On 1 October 1812, James Sadler ascended from the lawns of<br />

Belvedere House in an attempt to cross the Irish Sea in a hot air<br />

balloon. The historic event and some of the excitement which it<br />

generated in Drumcondra was recorded in an account published<br />

for the benefit of the distinguished aeronaut, who it would<br />

appear had fallen on hard times. The launch was attended by the<br />

Duke and Duchess of Richmond and other guests of Mr<br />

Beresford, the owner of Belvedere House. A number of<br />

marquees were erected in the grounds and two military bands<br />

entertained the large crowds. A detachment of military were at<br />

hand lest the excitement spill into disorder.<br />

Sadler’s balloon was fifty five feet in diameter and carried eleven cwt for ballast. His voyage<br />

which had previously been postponed due to bad weather began well but was then dogged by<br />

misfortune and misjudgement. Sadler quickly reached the Isle of Man and then, catching a<br />

north-easterly drifted towards Holyhead. Intent on landing in Liverpool, he spurned the<br />

opportunity to land in Anglesea. He descended to catch a south-westerly current but was<br />

blown off course, eventually ditching in the sea where he was rescued from drowning by a<br />

passing ship.<br />

James Sadler’s son, Windham, later emulated his father,<br />

completing a crossing of the Irish Sea, In July 1817, he took off from<br />

Portobello Barracks and landed in Angelsey.<br />

34


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

The first manned balloon flight took place in France in 1783. In the following year, James Sadler became the first English aeronaut<br />

when he ascended into the atmosphere from Christchurch Meadow, in Oxford, an event marked by a plaque on the wall of Merton<br />

<strong>College</strong>. In the years that followed, he made numerous ascents, twice ending in near disaster at sea, in the Bristol Channel and, as<br />

we have seen, in the Irish Sea. He died peacefully in bed, at the age of seventy five and is buried in <strong>St</strong> Edmund Hall, Oxford. His<br />

son Windham was less fortunate, dying in a ballooning accident in 1824.<br />

35


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Awards/Scholarships/Honours /<br />

Gradam/Scoláireachtaí/Onóracha<br />

STUDENTS<br />

Undergraduate <strong>College</strong> Prizes – Graduation <strong>2006</strong><br />

Vere Foster / INTO<br />

Vincent de Paul Medal<br />

Fred Klotz Memorial Award<br />

Carlisle and Blake<br />

O’Donoghue Medal for History<br />

John Killeen Medal for English<br />

Bonn Mháirtín Uí Chadhain<br />

French Embassy Medal<br />

Seán Hayes Award for Music<br />

Michelle Whelan, BEd<br />

Fiona Sherlock, BEd<br />

Carol Costello, BEd<br />

David Dempsey, BEd<br />

Michelle Whelan, BEd<br />

Shane Guckian, BA<br />

Maria Dunne, BA<br />

Eimear Ní Bhradáin, BOid<br />

Karen Ní Choistealbha, BOid<br />

Orla Pender, BEd<br />

David Callaghan, BEd<br />

Claire Quinn, BEd<br />

Postgraduate scholarships<br />

MEd:<br />

MA<br />

Sinéad Sharkey<br />

Pat Furlong<br />

Niamh Williams<br />

STAFF<br />

<strong>College</strong> Research/Professional Development Fellowships<br />

Research:<br />

Joe Dunne, Human Development – 1 year<br />

Ciarán Mac Murchaidh, Roinn na Gaeilge – 1 semester<br />

Ruth McManus, Geography Department – 1 semester<br />

Professional Development:<br />

Maura O’Connor, Early Childhood Education - 1 semester<br />

Joe Travers, Special Education Department – 1 semester<br />

Teaching and Learning<br />

Funding for professional development was granted to:<br />

Bernie Collins<br />

Philomena Donnelly<br />

Patricia Flynn<br />

Paula Murphy<br />

IRCHSS Fellowship:<br />

Senior Research:<br />

Diarmaid Ferriter, History Department<br />

36


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

Appendices / Aguisíní<br />

APPENDIX 1: TABLE OF STUDENT ENROLMENT <strong>2006</strong>/<strong>07</strong><br />

Course Year Total Female Male<br />

Bachelor of Arts 1 193 141 52<br />

Bachelor of Arts 2 177 151 26<br />

Bachelor of Arts 3 178 139 39<br />

Bachelor of Education 1 403 355 48<br />

Bachelor of Education 2 412 348 64<br />

Bachelor of Education 3 387 351 36<br />

Certificate in Religious <strong>St</strong>udies (part-time) 2 33 28 5<br />

Doctorate in Education (EdD) 3 18 13 5<br />

Graduate Cert. in Education of Pupils with ASD 1 12 12 --<br />

Graduate Cert. in Education of Pupils with ASD 2 1 1 --<br />

Graduate Dip. in Special Education 1 61 55 6<br />

IES Foreign <strong>St</strong>udent (part-time) 1 139 105 34<br />

Certificate in Education (In service) 1 4 4 --<br />

Master of Arts Taught 1 1 -- 1<br />

Master of Arts Taught 2 69 52 17<br />

Master of Arts Thesis/Research 1 3 3 --<br />

Master of Arts Thesis/Research 2 5 4 1<br />

Master of Arts Thesis/Research 3 4 1 3<br />

Master of Religious Education 1 6 4 2<br />

Master of Religious Education 2 3 2 1<br />

Master of Education by Research 1 3 3 --<br />

Master of Education 1 35 31 4<br />

Master of Education 2 45 35 10<br />

Master of Education 3 1 1 --<br />

Masters in Special Education 1 12 7 5<br />

Masters in Special Education 2 1 1 --<br />

PhD 1 3 1 2<br />

PhD 2 10 6 4<br />

Post Doctoral Fellowship 1 2 2 --<br />

Grad. Dip. in Education (Primary) 1 102 80 22<br />

Grad. Dip. in Education (Primary) 2 103 88 15<br />

Total 2,439 2,035 404<br />

APPENDIX 2: FINAL EXAMINATION STATISTICS <strong>2006</strong>/<strong>07</strong><br />

Course H1 H2 H 2.1 H 2.2 Pass Credit Distinct Merit Total<br />

BEd 23 - 166 170 16 - - - 375<br />

BA 12 - 52 73 36 - - - 173<br />

Grad.Dip.Ed (Primary) 10 - 38 50 2 - - - 100<br />

Grad.Dip.Special Ed - - - - 3 - 14 40 57<br />

Grad. Cert. in Ed. of Pupils with ASD - - - - 1 - 4 8 13<br />

Masters in Special Ed. Needs 6 6 - - - - - - 12<br />

MEd 5 24 - - 6 - - - 35<br />

Cert. in Education - - - - - 3 - - 3<br />

Dip. in Education - - - - - 3 2 - 5<br />

MA 18 - - 35 5 - - - 58<br />

MA Research - - - - - - - - 3*<br />

PhD - - - - - - - - 5*<br />

Cert. in Religious <strong>St</strong>udies (BEd) - - - - 120 234 8 - 362<br />

Cert. in Religious <strong>St</strong>udies (Grad) - - - - 57 39 3 - 99<br />

Cert. in Religious <strong>St</strong>udies (part-time) - - - - 2 23 2 - 27<br />

* ungraded award<br />

37


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

APPENDIX 3: GRADUATION – NOVEMBER <strong>2006</strong><br />

Course<br />

No. Graduated<br />

Bachelor of Arts 163<br />

Bachelor of Education 399<br />

Certificate in Religious <strong>St</strong>udies 391<br />

Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching) 96<br />

Graduate Diploma in Education (Cert in Religion) 94<br />

Graduate Diploma in Special Education 30<br />

Graduate Diploma in Learning Support 22<br />

Grad Cert in Education of Pupils with ASD 17<br />

Graduate Diploma in Advanced Educational <strong>St</strong>udies 2<br />

Masters in Special Education Needs 12<br />

Certificate in Education 7<br />

Diploma in Education 31<br />

Master of Arts 4<br />

Master of Arts (Research) 2<br />

Master of Education 22<br />

Master of Education (Research) 2<br />

Masters in Religious Education (Primary) * 3<br />

PhD 2<br />

Certificate in Religious <strong>St</strong>udies (part-time) 16<br />

* Conferred in Mater Dei <strong>College</strong><br />

APPENDIX 4: ANALYSIS OF <strong>2006</strong> GRADUATES<br />

4.1 FIRST DESTINATION OF <strong>2006</strong> GRADUATES<br />

BEd<br />

Total Graduates 399; total responses 358<br />

First Destination Number %<br />

Permanent Teaching Ireland (primary) 143 39.9<br />

Temporary Teaching Irlelab (primary) 204 56.9<br />

Teaching Overseas 3 0.8<br />

Other work Ireland 2 0.6<br />

Other work overseas 1 0.3<br />

Further <strong>St</strong>udy 3 0.8<br />

Not available for work/study 2 0.6<br />

Postgraduate Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching)<br />

Total Graduates 96; total responses 95<br />

First Destination Number %<br />

Permanent Teaching Ireland (primary) 34 36<br />

Temporary Teaching Ireland (primary) 59 62<br />

Not available for work/study 2 2<br />

BA<br />

Total graduates 163; total responses 135<br />

First Destination Number %<br />

Further <strong>St</strong>udy 12 8.9<br />

Teacher Training 28 20.7<br />

Teacher Training OS 33 24.4<br />

Gained employment Irl FT 39 28.9<br />

Gained employment Irl PT 15 11.1<br />

Taking a year out /Employed Irl 2 1.5<br />

Taking a year out/employed OS 1 0.7<br />

Not available for work/study 2 1.5<br />

Seeking employment 3 2.2<br />

38


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

4.2 FURTHER STUDY BA GRADUATES<br />

Courses Number %<br />

H.Dip.Ed. 7 9.6<br />

Postgrad.Dip.Ed.,SPD 10 13.7<br />

Postgrad Dip.Ed.Marino 2 2.7<br />

PGCE primary OS 32 43.8<br />

PGCE second-level OS 1 1.4<br />

Hibernia PG 3 4.1<br />

Grad.Dip. Adult Ed. 4 5.5<br />

M.Phil. History of Irish Art 1 1.4<br />

Dip. Montessori/B.Ed. 2 2.7<br />

MA History 1 1.4<br />

M.Phil. Popular Literature 1 1.4<br />

M.R. Urban Planning 1 1.4<br />

M.Sc.Equality <strong>St</strong>udies 1 1.4<br />

MA Library <strong>St</strong>udies 1 1.4<br />

MA Film <strong>St</strong>udies 1 1.4<br />

Postgrad. Dip. Psychology 1 1.4<br />

M.Phil/Grad.Dip. Ecumenics 2 2.7<br />

M.Phil. Peace <strong>St</strong>udies 1 1.4<br />

MA American <strong>St</strong>udies 1 1.4<br />

4.3 MATURE GRADUATES <strong>2006</strong><br />

BEd<br />

Total mature graduates 30; total responses 22<br />

First Destination Number %<br />

Permanent Teaching Irl 10 45.4<br />

(primary)<br />

Temporary Teaching Irl 12 54.5<br />

(primary)<br />

BA<br />

Total mature graduates 42; total responses 34<br />

Destination Number %<br />

Further <strong>St</strong>udy Ireland 10 29.4<br />

Teacher Training Ireland 7 20.6<br />

Teacher Training (primary) OS 2 5.9<br />

Not available for work study 1 2.9<br />

Gained Employment Irl FT 5 14.7<br />

Gained employment Irl PT 5 14.7<br />

Employed taking a year out Irl 1 2.9<br />

Seeking employment 3 8.8<br />

Employment Sector Entered by BA Graduates<br />

Sector Number %<br />

Education Primary 16 28.1<br />

Financial Services 10 17.5<br />

Retail 7 12.2<br />

Catering 5 8.8<br />

Transport/Tourism 2 3.5<br />

Garda 3 5.3<br />

Education Secondary 3 5.3<br />

Social Work/Child Care 3 5.3<br />

Clerical 1 1.8<br />

Library/Info 2 3.5<br />

Accounts/Professional services 1 1.8<br />

HSE 1 1.8<br />

HR 1 1.8<br />

Higher Education 1 1.8<br />

Executive Administration 1 1.8<br />

Further <strong>St</strong>udy Mature BA Graduates<br />

Total responses 19<br />

Courses Number %<br />

H.Dip.Ed. 4 21.1<br />

PGCE primary OS 2 10.5<br />

MA History 1 5.3<br />

M.Phil. Popular Literature 1 5.3<br />

MA Film <strong>St</strong>udies 1 5.3<br />

Dip. Psych. 1 5.3<br />

M.Phil/Grad.Dip. Ecumenics 2 10.5<br />

MA International Peace <strong>St</strong>udies 1 5.3<br />

M.Phil. History of Irish Art 1 5.3<br />

M.Sc. Equality <strong>St</strong>udies 1 5.3<br />

MA Library <strong>St</strong>udies 1 5.3<br />

Dip. Adult Ed. 3 15.8<br />

Exam results<br />

BA and BEd Mature graduates<br />

Result<br />

Number<br />

H1 8<br />

H2.1 38<br />

H2.2 23<br />

Pass 3<br />

Total 72<br />

39


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

APPENDIX 5 : STAFFING<br />

5.1 STAFF LEVELS AT 1 APRIL 20<strong>07</strong><br />

Catergory No. Category No.<br />

President 1 Assistant Principal Officer 2<br />

Bursar 1 Higher Executive Officer 3<br />

Registrar 1 Executive Officer 13.5<br />

Head of Education 1 Clerical Officer 19.5<br />

Assistant Registrar 1 Buildings Manager 1<br />

Principal Lecturers 6 Senior Technician 2<br />

Senior Lecturer 9 11* Junior Technician 2<br />

Senior Lecturer 7 5 IT Support <strong>St</strong>aff 2<br />

Lecturer 71 Careers/Counselling 2<br />

Assistant Lecturer 1 Chaplain 1<br />

Contract Lecturer/Assistant Lecturer 6 Senior Tutor/Access Officer 1.5<br />

Seconded Academic 11 Porters 3<br />

TOTAL ACADEMIC 116 Maintenance 1<br />

Librarian 1 Housekeeping Supervisor 1<br />

Assistant Librarian 2.5 Cleaners 7**<br />

Senior Library Assistant 1 TOTAL CENTRAL SUPPORT STAFF 76<br />

Library Assistant 10<br />

Total 192<br />

*Includes one vacant SL9 position<br />

**1 full-time, 6 part-time<br />

5.2 CENTRAL SUPPORT STAFF APPOINTMENTS <strong>2006</strong>/<strong>07</strong><br />

Name<br />

James Burke<br />

Evelyn Cuddy<br />

Donna Orr<br />

Margaret Brierty<br />

Position<br />

Porter (contract)<br />

Higher Executive Officer (Humanities)<br />

Contract Clerical Officer (Secretary Bursar’s Office)<br />

Contract Clerical Officer (Admissions)<br />

5.3 ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS <strong>2006</strong>/<strong>07</strong><br />

Name<br />

Dr James Kelly<br />

Dr Joseph Dunne<br />

Dr Máirin Nic Eoin<br />

Dr Jean Ware<br />

Dr Ciaran Sugrue<br />

Dr Mary Shine Thompson<br />

Dr Peter Martin<br />

Tara Concannon<br />

Joan Keating<br />

Jane Carrigan<br />

Ailbhe Kenny<br />

Temporary Academic Appointments<br />

Olivia Bree<br />

Denis Twomey<br />

Breandán Ó Conaire<br />

Department<br />

Principal Lecturer (Humanities)<br />

Principal Lecturer (Education)<br />

Principal Lecturer (Humanities)<br />

Principal Lecturer/Dean with <strong>College</strong>-wide responsibility for Teaching and Learning<br />

Principal Lecturer/Director of Graduate research, Education<br />

Principal Lecturer/Dean of Humanities, with <strong>College</strong>-wide responsibility for Research<br />

Assistant Lecturer in History<br />

Secondment in Education<br />

Secondment in Education (Pilot Project on Induction)<br />

Researcher/PhD Fellow (Educational Disadvantage)<br />

Research Fellow (Music Department)<br />

Acting Registrar<br />

Acting Assistant Registrar<br />

Ceann Roinn na Gaeilge (Acting)<br />

40


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

5.4 RETIREMENTS<br />

The following Central Support staff retired during the year <strong>2006</strong>/<strong>07</strong>:<br />

John Hogan, General Operative, Maintenance <strong>St</strong>aff<br />

The following members of the Academic staff retired on 31st<br />

August 20<strong>07</strong>:<br />

Ms Gay Barry, Head of French Department<br />

Dr Seán Close, Curriculum Mathematics, Education Department<br />

Dr John Cosgrave, Head of Mathematics Department<br />

Ms Patricia Lynch, Special Education Department<br />

An Dr Breandán Ó Conaire, Roinn na Gaeilge<br />

Their retirements were marked by a function in the <strong>College</strong> in<br />

their honour.<br />

Dr Liam Mac Mathúna resigned as Registrar of the <strong>College</strong> on 30<br />

September to take up a professorial position in UCD. Dr Alan<br />

Titley resigned as Ceann Roinn na Gaeilge on 31st October, also<br />

to take up a professorial position, in UCC. Their contribution to<br />

the <strong>College</strong> was marked by a function in their honour on 20<br />

October <strong>2006</strong>.<br />

Martin Ward presenting a retirement gift to John Hogan<br />

Liosta na marbh<br />

Dr Michael Dillon, former Head of the Geography<br />

Department passed away on 15 March. A native of<br />

Coalisland, Michael taught in Belfast for a short time after<br />

graduating from Queen’s before joining the staff of the <strong>College</strong> in<br />

1963. He retired in 2004 but continued to teach part-time until<br />

shortly before his untimely death. A month’s mind mass was held<br />

in the <strong>College</strong> on 17 April, attended by members of Michael’s<br />

family, his friends, neighbours, colleagues, students and former<br />

students. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.<br />

Patrick Greene, well-known Co Longford teacher and folklorist,<br />

and graduate of the <strong>College</strong>, passed away at his home on 22<br />

February 20<strong>07</strong>, at the age of 106. Mr Greene was a student in the<br />

<strong>College</strong> in 1918-1920. He wrote about his experiences as a<br />

student and as a teacher in his publication In shades like these:<br />

Irish Teacher Life-Histories from the Twentieth Century compiled<br />

and edited by Joe Conway (Comhar Linn, 2000). An extract from<br />

this is published in the <strong>College</strong> Annual Report 2000-2001. Mr<br />

Greene was present in the <strong>College</strong> in July 1999 at a ceremony to<br />

mark the departure of the Vincentian Community from the<br />

<strong>College</strong>.<br />

Liam Mac Mathúna, Breandán Ó Conaire, Alan Titley and<br />

Pauric Travers<br />

41


Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

5.5 GROWTH IN STAFF AND STUDENT NUMBERS 1997-20<strong>07</strong><br />

42


<strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra /<br />

Coláiste Phádraig, Droim Conrach<br />

APPENDIX 6 –<br />

SPEECH BY AN TAOISEACH AT LAUNCH OF COLLEGE HISTORY<br />

Thug Coláiste Naomh Pádraig faoi na dúshláin agus na deiseanna a tugadh dó le meon dearfach ón gcéad lá a osclaíodh é in ocht<br />

déag seachtó a cúig. Bhí baint aige le bunoideachas go príomha ach is léir anois go bhfuil raon fairsing de chúrsaí oideachais<br />

nua-aoiseacha den chéad scoth á gcur ar fáil aige. Dá bharr sin, tá áit lárnach tuillte ag Coláiste Naomh Pádraig i stair shóisialta na<br />

hÉireann. Is onóir dom mar sin a bheith i gcroílár mo dháilcheantar féin chun an leabhar tábhachtach seo a sheoladh.<br />

It is a great pleasure for me to be here in <strong>St</strong>. Patrick’s to officially launch <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra, A History. As a Northside<br />

institution I know that <strong>St</strong> <strong>Patrick's</strong> has always been proud of its location here in the heart of Drumcondra. I am glad that today<br />

provides another happy occasion for me to pay you all a visit.<br />

My own school days started not a million miles away as a pupil of <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s National School. I have fond memories of my time<br />

there and the great teachers that gave me a firm foundation in my education.<br />

As one of the oldest third-level institutions in this country, the history of <strong>St</strong>. Patrick’s <strong>College</strong> in Drumcondra is tightly linked with<br />

the history of education itself in this country.<br />

When <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s opened its doors in 1875 it did so amidst an ongoing debate about teacher-training and the system of national<br />

schools. Under the management of the Vincentians, and the principal Fr. Pat Byrne, the college soon became established as a<br />

teacher training college so that by 1908 almost two thirds of trained male catholic school teachers in Ireland were trained here.<br />

Over the course of time, the fortunes of the college have seen some fluctuation. I know that when the college was forced to close<br />

temporarily in 1944 its future might have seemed uncertain. But happily, from 1945 onwards, <strong>St</strong> Pat’s embarked on a period of<br />

rapid and sustained expansion.<br />

Between the 1950s and early 1970s, under the stewardship of Fr. Donal Cregan, the college again underwent a significant<br />

transition. In particular, the opening of a new Educational Research Centre in 1966 marked the transformation from a traditional<br />

teacher training college to the forward-looking institution that it is today.<br />

The mid-1970’s marked another important turning point for the <strong>College</strong> with the introduction of the Bachelor of Education Degree<br />

and the college’s recognition by the NUI. Having survived the severe budgetary climate of the 1980’s, <strong>St</strong> Pat’s continued with its<br />

development in the 1990’s.<br />

The institutional relationship with <strong>DCU</strong> which was inaugurated in 1993 has proved to be a fruitful one and academic development<br />

has gone from strength to strength. I know that particular achievements have been the introduction of a Masters in Education in<br />

1995 and the taught doctoral programme that was introduced in 2005. In particular, I think it is fair to say that the contribution<br />

made by this college to the development of Special Education in this country has been a really significant one.<br />

Whatever each different era brought to <strong>St</strong>. Patrick’s the one constant thread that has run through its history has been its faithful<br />

endeavour to serve the nation as an educational institution. And from its earliest days, the college played a key role in setting high<br />

standards and progressing the cause of education in this land.<br />

This history of <strong>St</strong>. Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra which we are launching today, faithfully and rigorously records the ups and downs<br />

of the development of this institution. In doing so, it explores the history of education itself in Ireland since the late nineteenth<br />

century. As such, James Kelly, the Editor has ensured its appeal will not be limited to those who have a personal connection with <strong>St</strong>.<br />

Patrick’s.<br />

As a modern institution, <strong>St</strong>. Patrick’s is a real part of the community in which it is located. As a resident of Drumcondra, I was<br />

particularly interested to see the two chapters in this book that set out the history of Belvedere House, the base for <strong>St</strong>. Pat’s since<br />

1883, and the history of Drumcondra itself. Given my particular fondness for this area, it came as no surprise to learn that from its<br />

Gaelic Roots, the name Drom Condraighe refers to a ‘charming hill’ north of the River Tolka.<br />

Of course, in the past, <strong>St</strong>. Patrick’s was not always as outward looking as it is today. The enclosed nature of the college into the<br />

1950s obviously caused discontent with at least one former pupil here - the writer, John McGahern. He recalled that: “ We were<br />

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Annual Report / Tuarascáil Bhliantúil<br />

<strong>2006</strong> / 20<strong>07</strong><br />

allowed outside the walls on the afternoons of Wednesdays and Saturdays, but we had to return for meals and Evening Devotions<br />

and be back within the walls before the gates closed at ten.”<br />

Happily, the students at <strong>St</strong>. Patrick’s today would not relate to this description, not least because the college is now largely<br />

non-residential. Of course, one of the major changes since those earlier days was the first admission of female students in 1971. In<br />

1999 <strong>St</strong>. Pat’s also saw the end of one era and the beginning of another with the departure of the Vincentians, who had made such a<br />

contribution to the college over the course of a century, and the appointment of Pauric Travers as the first lay President.<br />

At this point in its history, the college is again facing into a period of considerable change. Recent major reports point to the need to<br />

radically re-think initial teacher education to prepare teachers for the significant challenges of educating pupils in the 21st century.<br />

I know that the review work has already started and I am confident that this college will play a key role in the process. Major<br />

challenges arise from the range of changes we are seeing in legislation, curricula, inclusiveness and cultural diversity. In addition,<br />

we must take care to ensure that a modern teaching career is characterised by a commitment to life-long learning and continual<br />

personal and professional development.<br />

It is also vital that the state is able to continue to attract, develop and retain talented and highly motivated people in the primary<br />

teaching profession. This is essential if we are to educate for participation in the global knowledge-based society.<br />

As well as its major contribution in the field of teacher training, it is important to acknowledge <strong>St</strong> Patrick’ contribution to<br />

research - it has the biggest Faculty of Education on this island, including the Special Education Department. The college is also<br />

renowned for its continuing role in promoting and teaching the Irish language.<br />

I know that <strong>St</strong>. Patrick’s is all too well aware of the competitive environment in which it is operating as a Third Level Institution and<br />

the need for innovation in moving forward. The Government, for its part, is fully committed to promoting a culture of innovation<br />

and strategic development in the Third Level Sector through measures such as the <strong>St</strong>rategic Innovation Fund and the Programme for<br />

Research in Third Level Institutions.<br />

In preparing this campus to meet the many challenges of the future, I was delighted to be of assistance in securing funding of some<br />

€38million from the Minister for Education and Science for development work. I understand that a Design Team will shortly be<br />

appointed for this project which will make a huge difference to the teaching, library and office facilities here. I wish you all the best<br />

with this major undertaking which continues a long tradition of state investment in <strong>St</strong>. Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>.<br />

The publication of <strong>St</strong>. Patrick’s <strong>College</strong>, Drumcondra, A History is a fitting tribute to this fine college as well as representing a major<br />

contribution to the study of the Irish history of education in its own right.<br />

James Kelly, editor and contributor, is to be congratulated on this fine volume. James, I know that you are deeply indebted to the<br />

high standard of material submitted by each of the other contributors to this history: Ruth McManus, Joseph Doyle, Carla King,<br />

Diarmaid Ferriter, John Walsh, Eoghan Ó Súilleabháin and Ciaran Sugrue. The strong fellowship that exists in <strong>St</strong> Patrick’s is evident<br />

in the fact that academic staff, past and present, and former students feature strongly amonst these contributors. Special mention<br />

must also go to Four Courts Press who have done such a great job on publishing this volume.<br />

It only remains for me to thank you for your kind invitation here today and to wish you continued success.<br />

Go raibh maith agaibh<br />

An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern<br />

November <strong>2006</strong><br />

44


COLÁISTE PHÁDRAIG<br />

Droim Conrach<br />

Baile Átha Cliath 9<br />

Éire<br />

(Coláiste de chuid Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath)<br />

Fón: 353-1-8842000<br />

Feacs: 353-1-8376197<br />

ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE<br />

Drumcondra<br />

Dublin 9<br />

Ireland<br />

(A <strong>College</strong> of Dublin City University)<br />

Phone: 353-1-8842000<br />

Fax: 353-1-8376197

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